Bears backup quarterback Trevor Siemian will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the oblique injury he sustained in pregame warmups last Sunday, coach Matt Eberflus announced Friday.
"He got the MRIs and all that stuff, and they said that you could or couldn't do surgery and he elected to do it," Eberflus said. "He wants to, going forward, be able to zip the ball, and that was a big part of it. Obviously, the oblique is a big part of throwing the pass. So yeah, I don't know if he re-injured it or however that was – when he dove – or the timetable there."
With quarterback Justin Fields missing the Jets game with a left shoulder injury, Siemian was slated to start, but he strained his oblique while warming up. While the Bears announced third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman would start, Siemian ultimately decided to play through the injury and came out on the opening drive.
Siemian did not practice this week and will move to injured reserve for the remainder of the season. While last Sunday's game was Siemian's first start with the Bears, Eberflus expressed his appreciation for the veteran's presence this season along with the support he's provided Fields' development.
He was great," Eberflus said. "Of course, I'm in all those meetings and he was outstanding. Supportive, talking things out, talking plays out in the meeting. You know, this is how he sees it. What about this? What about this? Giving suggestions. Super smart, great teammate, always encouraging to Justin and everybody in the room. He was a joy to be around and is an excellent, excellent pro."
Peterman will now back up Fields, who is expected to start against Green Bay Sunday. The Bears also signed quarterback Tim Boyle off the Lions practice squad earlier this week.
My Cause My Cleats
During his Friday press conference, Eberflus displayed his custom shoes, which support the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative.
"[I'm] proud to represent the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center," Eberflus said, "and really what the Z Center is, it seeks to provide quality, comprehensive, client-centered services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. And it really takes the survivors from here to healing. And they've got a lot of educational programs there. My wife Kelly visited there a few weeks back and just blown away with their services and the whole Z Center, so that's My Cause My Cleats for me."
Eberflus is one of seven Bears' staffers, along with 22 players, supporting My Cause My Cleats this week. He chose the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center in hopes of bringing more attention to the issue.
"It's just been an important part for the whole family," Eberflus said. "Really, we think it's under, you know, people don't pay much attention to it. We really think that it should be paid attention to. Everybody's family has some sort of it from a certain relative or family member or sister, whoever that is, and I think we all acknowledge it — it affects everybody. And we want to be representing that and supporting that and that's why."
Several Bears players and coaches rocked special footwear for the team's My Cause My Cleats game December 4th against the Packers. Take an exclusive look at each person's custom spikes, which were created to support a charitable organization of their choice.
Cairo Santos
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Cairo Santos
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Byron Pringle
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Byron Pringle
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Luke Getsy
Cause: Autism Awareness
Luke Getsy
Cause: Autism Awareness
Sean Magee
Organization: Travis Manion Foundation and Brendan Looney Foundation
Sean Magee
Organization: Travis Manion Foundation and Brendan Looney Foundation
Sean Magee
Organization: Travis Manion Foundation and Brendan Looney Foundation
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Darnell Mooney
Organization: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Darnell Mooney
Organization: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Trenton Gill
Organization: Duke Cancer Center
Trenton Gill
Organization: Duke Cancer Center
Trenton Gill
Organization: Duke Cancer Center
Patrick Scales
Organization: Navy Seals Foundation
Patrick Scales
Organization: Navy Seals Foundation
Patrick Scales
Organization: Navy Seals Foundation
David Montgomery
Organization: Bright Star Community Outreach
David Montgomery
Organization: Bright Star Community Outreach
David Montgomery
Organization: Bright Star Community Outreach
Nicholas Morrow
Organization: Simple Room
Nicholas Morrow
Organization: Simple Room
Nicholas Morrow
Organization: Simple Room
Lucas Patrick
Organization: First Priority
Lucas Patrick
Organization: First Priority
Lucas Patrick
Organization: First Priority
Angelo Blackson
Organization: Angelo Blackson Foundation
Angelo Blackson
Organization: Angelo Blackson Foundation
Angelo Blackson
Organization: Angelo Blackson Foundation
Jaylon Johnson
Organization: Kevvys Vision Project
Jaylon Johnson
Organization: Kevvys Vision Project
Jaylon Johnson
Organization: Kevvys Vision Project
Matt Eberflus
Organization: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Matt Eberflus
Organization: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Matt Eberflus
Organization: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Ryan Griffin
Organization: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Ryan Griffin
Organization: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Ryan Griffin
Organization: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Ryan Poles
Organization: Beyond the Baby Blues
Ryan Poles
Organization: Beyond the Baby Blues
Ryan Poles
Organization: Beyond the Baby Blues
Josh Blackwell
Organization: Dementia Society of America
Josh Blackwell
Organization: Dementia Society of America
Josh Blackwell
Organization: Dementia Society of America
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Justin Fields
Organization: American Brain Foundation
Justin Fields
Organization: American Brain Foundation
Justin Fields
Organization: American Brain Foundation
Trevis Gipson
Organization: Bears Care
Trevis Gipson
Organization: Bears Care
Trevis Gipson
Organization: Bears Care
Alex Leatherwood
Organization: Surfrider Foundation
Alex Leatherwood
Organization: Surfrider Foundation
Alex Leatherwood
Organization: Surfrider Foundation
Braxton Jones
Cause: Social Justice
Braxton Jones
Cause: Social Justice
Braxton Jones
Cause: Social Justice
Alan Williams
Organization: Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Alan Williams
Organization:
Alan Williams
Organization: Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Carla Suber
Organization: Heroh Houndation
Carla Suber
Organization: Heroh Houndation
Carla Suber
Organization: Heroh Houndation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Khari Blasingame
Organization: Turners Heroes
Khari Blasingame
Organization: Turners Heroes
Khari Blasingame
Organization: Turners Heroes
Staley Da Bear
Organization: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Staley Da Bear
Organization: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Staley Da Bear
Organization: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Honorary captain
Right tackle Riley Reiff will be the Bears' honorary captain for the Packers game, Eberflus told reporters Friday, while also giving him a birthday shoutout.
"Just had his birthday earlier in the week," Eberflus said. "He wouldn't tell me how old he is, but he's excited about it. We call him the "Big Sheriff" around here, so we're excited about having him."
Reiff, who has started the past five games at right tackle in place of Larry Borom, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game with a back injury, which he sustained against the Jets. While Borom hasn't practiced all week and has been ruled out against the Packers, Reiff was a full participant Friday. While the 11-year veteran didn't practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday, Eberflus likes where Reiff's health is at.
"We feel good about it," Eberflus said. "We do. We really do. He's been really resting and getting himself there. He was out there today and so we'll see where it goes, but we feel pretty good where he is."
