Hroniss Grasu left Saturday’s Bears practice via cart after a non-contact injury to his right knee. John Fox told media, including Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the malady “looked serious.”
The second-year Chicago center will undergo testing, Fox confirmed, via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).
Grasu missed half of his rookie season due to a neck injury but returned and started the final eight games for the Bears, who are counting on him at center this season.
This would continue to affect a Bears team that once looked to have amassed some depth up front, but the NFC North outfit has endured several setbacks to that once-deep stable of blockers. Chicago cut Matt Slauson and saw the guard who played center effectively when Grasu was shelved last fall sign with the Chargers. The Bears also lost free agent signings Manny Ramirez and Nate Chandler to retirement. Offseason additions Ted Larsen and Amini Silatolu remain with the team, though, with the former potentially being called to action if Grasu’s injury is indeed serious.
Grasu arrived in Chicago after the Bears selected him in the third round out of Oregon last year. The Bears brought Larsen in to play guard, but he’s lined up at center in the past in a six-year career with the Buccaneers and Cardinals.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Releasing Slauson looks like a terrible move now, but understood why they did it. They were looking to get more athletic and have more zone blocking. They also wanted to get the younger guys more experience and Slausen is not the type of player you demote to backup at this point in his career.
Wow this is a rough break for the young man, I truly hope he heals and comes back stronger then ever . Good luck young man.
Everyone is mocking the Slausen cut now, but like Shamrock said, at the time it was the right move. You can’t predict injuries. I feel bad for Grasu. He’s worked really hard and it sucks to have multiple setbacks at the start of your career. Hope he’s okay.
Better call garza or kreutz!