Bears place offensive lineman Brian de la Puente on injured reserve
The Chicago Bears have placed offensive lineman Brian de la Puente on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Defensive tackle Brandon Dunn will be promoted from the practice squad to fill de la Puente's vacated roster spot.
The move is the latest in a series of rearrangements for the Bears offensive line beleaguered by injuries. Matt Slauson, Roberto Garza and Jordan Mills are among the Chicago lineman who have all missed time recently.
It is unclear when or how de la Puente, who helped protect Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in Chicago's 21-13 win Sunday over Tampa Bay, injured his ankle. The Bears offensive line has given up 27 sacks this season, ranking 18th in sacks allowed among NFL front lines.
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"We knew the defense was keeping us in the game and we needed to keep them off the field," de la Puente told Comcast SportsNet Chicago, without referencing the injury. "We came together in the locker room, looked each other in the eye and then we came out with the energy we needed, kind of found it with the run game.”
De la Puente played for New Orleans from 2011 to 2013 before arriving in Chicago in 2014. He started in all but four of the Saints regular season games over the time span.
Chicago is 5-6, and sits in third place in the NFC North. The Bears play Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.
- Will Green
