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Courtney Cronin, ESPN writer
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears nose tackle Andrew Billings was placed on injured reserve Thursday after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
The defensive tackle left the second half of Chicago’s 29-9 loss to Arizona in Week 9 with the injury and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Billings has played in all 25 games since joining the Bears as a free agent in 2023 and signing a contract extension midway through last season. In eight games this season, Billings recorded 13 tackles and one sack.
“It’s huge,” Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington said of the void Billings creates. “Andrew [is] Just a big, physical guy. He has elevated his game this year in terms of being able to affect the quarterback. He can play from the position to the bench, so there is no way to replace Andrew, only his leadership, the example he sets every day in the meeting rooms and on the practice field. We will step forward behind him, but it is something that does not replace a person like that. A professional like that, but I have tremendous confidence in the players who will fill that position and give us the opportunity to go out and do the things we need to do.”
The Bears will look for a combination of players to fill Billings’ spot, including former third-round defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, who missed time this season after breaking his groin, Chris Williams and Byron Cowart.
