Bears announce center Lucas Patrick is out for the season

There was some (sort of) good news and some bad news on the Chicago Bears injury front Wednesday.

Quarterback Justin Fields remains day-to-day with a left shoulder injury but was cleared by the Bears’ medical staff to return to practice. Obviously, that’s great news.

The bad news? Starting center Lucas Patrick will miss the rest of the 2022 season while he recovers from toe surgery.

Matt Eberflus said that Lucas Patrick had surgery on his toe “a couple weeks ago” (he’s been on IR since ahead of Week 8) and is out for the rest of the year.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) November 23, 2022

Patrick signed a two-year, $8 million contract in free agency and was viewed as one of the Bears’ biggest offseason additions. His 2022 season was limited to seven games and five starts. Once healthy, he’ll enter a competition to start at center in 2023. Chicago’s current starter, Sam Mustipher, has the lowest PFF grade among Bears starting offensive linemen.