Bears Place Center Will Montgomery On IR
By Chris Emma--
(CBS) The Bears must move on to a plan B at center after making it official: Will Montgomery is out for the season with his broken fibula, having been placed on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday.
Montgomery suffered the broken fibula early in the first quarter of Sunday's 22-20 win over Oakland. His injury was determined immediately after the game by coach John Fox.
In place of Montgomery, the Bears moved left guard Matt Slauson to center and put Patrick Omameh in at left guard.
"That's not what you want to see," Slauson said of Montgomery's injury. "I don't want to see it. Will was my guys, he's a great, great player for us. He's what sets the whole offense. I knew I was in that position. Definitely not as comfortable with it."
Fox has yet to publicly determine what the Bears' next move will be at center. Rookie Hroniss Grasu was inactive for Sunday's game and unable to step in. Slauson said on Monday that he would prefer early notification on a potential move to center.
The possibility of Grasu stepping in at center wasn't ruled out by Fox, who pointed to his youth.
"At some point, we'll get to find out," Fox said of Grasu's status.
Montgomery has played in 110 games, starting 75. He has previously played for the Panthers, Jets, Washington, Broncos and joined the Bears prior to this season.
The Bears travel to Kansas City this weekend for a Sunday contest with the Chiefs.
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.
