They are dropping like flies in the Windy City coming out of the Chicago Bears’ Week 6 bye.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears have placed Pro Bowl defensive lineman Akiem Hicks on injured reserve with an elbow injury.
This is an absolutely massive blow for the 3-2 Bears as they look to navigate through a difficult NFC North moving forward.
Hicks, 29, recorded 16 quarterback hits and 7.5 sacks en route to earning his first Pro Bowl trip last season.
He missed Chicago’s Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings before returning against the Raiders in London the following week. It’s obvious the injury was too much for him to overcome.
Hicks joins guard Kyle Long, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel as key members of the Bears sidelined to injury heading into their Week 7 game against the New Orleans Saints.