Hard hitting Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Jon Bostic could find himself much more in the line of fire for the remaining of the season after the team announced veteran middle linebacker D.J. Williams is expected to miss significant time nursing a torn pectoral muscle.
According to ESPN, Williams left the team's 27-21 win over the New York Giants on Thursday with four minutes remaining in the third quarter after a Brandon Jacobs run for a 1-yard loss. The team expects to know the full extent of his injury sometime over the weekend.
There's certainly a chance Williams could be out for the season," Bears coach Marc Trestman told ESPN. "When they say pec, it can be very severe. It can be a season-ending injury. It's a pec, and those are always dangerous. We'll know a lot more in the next 24 hours."
Enter, both literally and figuratively Bostic, who replaced Williams in the lineup against the Giants. And the 6-1, 245 pound rookie's reputation proceeds him.
Bostic was fined $21,000 for a hit he delivered on San Diego Chargers wideout Mike Willie during the preseason that critics derided as simply " too hard." More recently, league officials investigated him for a bone-crushing hit he administered on Detroit Lions receiver Kris Durham.
"I did not see it, I really didn't see it," Bears coach Marc Trestman said of Bostic's play on Durham. "I haven't heard about it and I haven't heard from the league about it. We'll see what happens the next couple days."
Trestman also offered his critical eye on Bostic's play against the Giants. "I thought he was active," he said. "He was around the football. With D.J. being probably questionable certainly for the next week or maybe out, he's gonna get a lot of work. It's a next man-up mentality. I think he's mentally ready to take on playing the position."
If Williams proves to be out for the season, he would be the third Bears defensive starter to suffer a season-ending injury. Henry Melton and Nate Collins have both suffered year-ending torn ACLs.
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