Josh Sitton Injury: Updates on Bears Guard's Ankle and Return
The Chicago Bears listed guard Josh Sitton as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans as he deals with an ankle injury.
Continue for updates.
Friday, Nov. 25
Sitton picked up the injury in Chicago's Week 11 loss to the New York Giants. Chris Emma of 670 The Score reported after the game he was wearing a walking boot on his right ankle as he exited the locker room.
The ankle dogged the veteran lineman all week. According to the Bears' injury report, he didn't practice on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Sitton, 30, is a three-time Pro Bowler and a three-time Associated Press All-NFL Second-Team selection. He seemingly was a vital cog in the Green Bay Packers' offensive line and helped to solidify the steady unit in front of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
But the team decided to cut him before the season in a surprise move, allowing the Bears to sign him.
His loss is a big one for Chicago as it tries to remedy a slow start to the season. Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 65th-best player in the NFL last season, writing the following:
There is no better pass-protecting guard in the NFL than Josh Sitton. From 2013 to 2014, he averaged just 9.5 total pressures; playing guard this season, he allowed just 16 over 17 games (including the playoffs). His performance has been good enough that the Packers believed him to be the best option they had at left tackle once injuries bit late in the season, and he started a game there against the Vikings on the final regular season encounter. He surrendered seven total pressures in that game, largely to Everson Griffen, but graded barely below average, which for a guard playing tackle, is actually quite an achievement.
Monson added that he allowed just 12 quarterback pressures in 2015, an incredibly impressive stat. In other words, replacing him is essentially impossible for the Bears.
Ted Larsen is likely to step back into the starting lineup, however, either at guard or at center, which would move rookie Cody Whitehair over to the left guard position. But Sitton's loss remains a tough break for a Bears offense that has struggled all season long.
