Chicago Bears Bench Gabe Carimi
On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears demoted left guard Chilo Rachal from the starting lineup in favor of Chris Spencer.That was a questionable decision from the Bears’ coaching staff. While the Bears offensive line has struggled mightily this season, Rachal was not the offensive lineman that the finger should have been pointed at. The finger should have pointed in the direction of left tackle J’Marcus Webb and right tackle Gabe Carimi. Whether or not Rachal felt the same way remains to be seen, but the fact remains that the former San Francisco 49er walked off the team’s facility on Wednesday upon news of his demotion. Rachal returned to Halas Hall on Thursday morning, though, the Bears have yet to address Rachal’s status.
Oct 1, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Chicago Bears tackle Gabe Carimi (72) on the bench during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Rachal’s return to Halas Hall on Thursday morning is not the only news making item for the Bears on this Thanksgiving morning. Multiple reports are citing sources in their reporting that right tackle Gabe Carimi has been benched. Carimi has struggled this season, and until this point, the Bears have treated their 2011 first round draft selection with kid gloves. In his first two years in the National Football League, Carimi has been plagued with knee injuries that has forced the right tackle to have multiple knee surgeries. After injuring his knee against the New Orleans Saints in week 2, Carimi missed the remainder of the 2011 season. With that in mind, 2012 has essentially served as Carimi’s rookie season. Though, as offensive coordinator Mike Tice indicated on Wednesday, the play of Carimi as well as the offensive line as a whole has been unacceptable this season. Tice delivered on his promise to make changes as both Rachal and now Carimi have been removed from the starting unit of offensive linemen. The Bears have yet to announce Carimi’s replacement, though, the expectation is that it will be former Pittsburgh Steeler Jonathan Scott.
Chicago Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith will address the media later today, that is when we can expect an update on the statuses of Carimi and Rachal.