Surprisingly, Bears right tackle Bobby Massie is inactive for Chicago's “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Washington Redskins, per their official inactive list.
Massie joins defensive back Kevin Toliver II, defensive back Sherrick McManis, running back Kerrith Whyte Jr., linebacker Josh Woods, wide receiver Riley Ridley, and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols as those who will not play on Monday night in Landover, Maryland.
Kicker Eddy Piniero, who was questionable leading up to the game, will play. Safety Eddie Jackson, guard Kyle Long and tight end Trey Burton will join him.
According to Jason Lieser of Chicago Sun-Times, Massie will not play due to an illness. At the time of writing, the starting right tackle is unknown.
Bears RT Bobby Massie was scratched because of an illness, per Bears PR. No announcement on who is starting tonight in his place. We were directed to look at who lines up on the o-line for the first play. Noted.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) September 23, 2019
Though not a world-beating tackle, Massie is a reliable starter for the Bears' offensive line. He's started 48 of their past 50 games. In the offseason, the Bears rewarded him for his efforts by handing him a four-year, $18 million contract.
The loss of Massie hurts, as the Bears don't boast an exceptional depth at either tackle positions. The likeliest scenario for the starting right tackle is Rashad Coward, who is second on the depth chart. A defensive tackle to offensive tackle convert, he is active for the first time for Monday night after injuries struck him at the beginning of the season.
Journeyman Cornelius Lucas may be an option, so will undrafted rookie lineman Alex Bars. By choosing either of the three, the Bears are downgrading their right tackle position. Mitchell Trubisky will have to be sharp.