Desperate for offensive line depth, the Bears activated guard Ryan Bates from injured reserve and promoted tackle Jake Curhan from the practice squad on Saturday.
The Bears also promoted linebacker Carl Jones from the practice squad for special teams help.
When the Bears take the field Sunday against the Patriots, it will be without their three top tackles: Braxton Jones (knee), Darnell Wright (knee) and Kiran Amegadjie (calf).
Bears coach Matt Eberflus was coy when asked how he’d line up Sunday, but Larry Borom started for Jones last week and figures to be in the starting lineup. Curhan, who replaced Wright mid-game Sunday, could do so again. Another option would be to move guard Matt Pryor outside and play either Bates or Nate Davis at guard.
Friday, Bates called his first-ever IR stint, which was caused by a shoulder injury, frustrating.
“It was a learning experience for me in terms of kind of challenging my mentals and kind of getting in the right mindset, because, early, I was in a bad headspace,” he said. “I just wanted to be out there. I wanted to be playing with the boys.”