Bears place Louis on injured reserve

November 26, 2012, 1:34 pm

	JOHN "MOON" MULLIN Archive
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The Bears offensive line took another major hit on Monday when the team placed right guard Lance Louis on injured reserve with a knee injury sustained on a hit by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen in the Bears’ 28-10 win on Sunday.

Louis was arguably the Bears’ best offensive lineman to this point of the season and moves reserve Edwin Williams into the starting lineup. Williams stepped in for Chris Spencer on Sunday when Spencer suffered a knee injury, and Spencer’s return is uncertain at this point as well.

Williams stepped in at left guard when Chris Williams went on IR with a wrist offense after game nine last season. Edwin Williams allowed zero sacks, one quarterback hit and 11 pressures in seven-plus games, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

Williams also subbed for Louis when the latter missed three games with an ankle injury in 2010. Williams allowed no sacks and one hit in those three games, based on PFF studies.

The Bears thought enough of Williams’ performance to work out a two-year contract extension last Dec. 28.

Coach Lovie Smith insisted that the Bears had contingency plans on Sunday when Louis and Spencer went to down and Williams and Gabe Carimi stepped in at the guard spots.

“We had a plan in place and you have to go over that plan at a lot of positions,” Smith said. “A lot of time we just have two quarterbacks up, both go down and you have a plan for that third guy. We have that for just about all those positions.”

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Jared Allen, Lance Louis