Bears G Matt Slauson out for season with torn pectoral
Chicago Bears guard Matt Slauson is out for the remainder of the season after tearing his right pectoral muscle, general manager Phil Emery announced Monday.
Slauson sustained the injury during the Bears' loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, though it isn't clear exactly when.
Michael Ola will likely start in Slauson's place going forward.
Ola has already filled in at left guard, left tackle and right tackle this season due to several injuries along the offensive line. Slauson missed three games earlier in the year due to a high ankle sprain, right tackle Brad Mills has dealt with a lingering foot injury and left tackle Jermain Bushrod missed two games due to a knee injury.
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The games missed this year by Slauson have been the first absences of his career, as he started all 16 games each season for the New York Jets from 2010-12 and did the same last year for the Bears. He signed a four-year, $13.9 million extension with Chicago in January.
Defensive end Lamarr Houston is also out for the season after sustaining an injury against the Patriots. Houston tore his ACL celebrating a sack in the fourth quarter.
The loss to New England was Chicago's second defeat in a row and fourth in its past five games, and it came a week after a reported contentious locker room scene after the Bears' loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.
The relationship between quarterback Jay Cutler and receiver Brandon Marshall, the leadership in the locker room and the job security of head coach Marc Trestman all came into question last week after the loss to the Dolphins.
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The Bears are now 3-5 and tied for last place in the NFC North. They have a bye this week before playing the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 9.
- Ben Estes
