Martellus Bennett Injury: Updates on Bears Star's Ribs and Recovery

Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday due to a lingering rib injury. 

Continue for updates.

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Fox Comments on Bennett's Injury

Wednesday, Dec. 9

Head coach John Fox said Bennett re-injured his fractured ribs against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN. 

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Bears Sign Rob Housler to Replace Bennett

Tuesday, Dec. 8

Zach Zaidman of the Chicago Bears Radio Network passed along word Bennett landed on IR because of a rib injury and replaced him on the active roster with Housler, who made one catch in six games earlier this season with the Cleveland Browns.

Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune provided some further details about the situation, which seen the tight end briefly return from a one-game absence Sunday:

Bennett has been one of the league's most reliable tight ends, both in terms of receiving and blocking, since joining the Bears in 2013. His consistency has made him a key piece of the passing attack, especially in a year where Alshon Jeffery has battled various ailments.

Now the tight end will force the team to lean on other players to fill the void for the rest of 2015. It's rare for him to miss time, having sat out just four games across his first seven years in the league. As mentioned, he did miss action earlier in the current campaign with the rib issue, though.

Zach Miller figures to handle most of the tight end duties for Chicago after serving in a limited role for most of the season. Khari Lee should also see an uptick in playing time in certain packages while Housler could also work into the offense once he gets up to speed.

None of those options can fully replace Bennett, though. He finishes the season with 53 catches for 439 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.