LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Chicago Bears Without starting center Lucas Patrick indefinitely after the 28-year-old injured his right hand during Thursday’s practice.
“The reason I’m giving that out is he is going to be out for a little bit of time, so it’s not just a soft tissue injury or something where he might be out a couple days,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said on Friday. “There is no timeline for the return.”
Fifth-round rookie Doug Kramer Patrick was substituted on Thursday and he shared center reps with the backup offensive lineman Sam Mustipher Friday
“Both those guys have done a good job with that,” Eberflus said. “It’s great competition in there. Dieter [Eiselen [Has] played a bit at the center. I think it’s good for those guys.”
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Patrick was one of Chicago’s main additions in free agency after playing five seasons in Green Bay. He signed a $2 million, two-year contract with the Bears. His goal was to start at center but he has also played guard.
Chicago also lacked an offensive tackle for the second year Teven Jenkins during Friday’s practice. Jenkins is “working through something with the trainers,” according to Eberflus, who designated the former second-round pick as “day to day.”
Jenkins was forced to have back surgery last August. As a rookie, he only took 157 snaps at left tackle. The Bears’ previous regime drafted the former Oklahoma State product with the belief he could develop into a franchise left tackle.
Jenkins has not participated in reps with the offensive-line first-team since spring workouts. Rookie Justin Jenkins replaced him at left tackle Braxton Jones In May, I spent a lot of OTAs with the second unit and minicamp at right tackle.