The Chicago Bears surprisingly took a chance on former first-round pick Alex Leatherwood after he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders after only one season in the NFL.
Leatherwood was a standout at Alabama but has failed to make a positive impact in the NFL to this point. Many supporters were hoping that the change of scenery in Chicago may help him, but they will have to wait to potentially see him on the field for the Bears.
The team has placed Leatherwood on the non-football/illness list and he will be out for at least four weeks for Chicago while recovering from mononucleosis.
The #Bears placed first-round OL Alex Leatherwood on the non-football/illness list and he's out for four weeks minimum. My understanding is Leatherwood has mononucleosis.
Coach Matt Eberflus said, "We feel great about where he is and him coming back."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 14, 2022
This is a very unlucky situation for Leatherwood as he attempts to turn his NFL career around, but Bears head coach Matt Eberflus gave an encouraging statement on Leatherwood and where he may fit on their roster when he can return.
“We feel great about him and where he is and him coming back.”
Mononucleosis is certainly a rare reason for a player to be out of action in the NFL, but perhaps the most famous instance of this happening to another NFL player came when Sam Darnold missed three weeks of action for the New York Jets with the illness in 2019.
Darnold was torn apart by the media during his bout with mono, and unfortunately, Leatherwood already seems to be dealing with some of the same jokes on social media that came Darnold’s way.
Sam Darnold nods https://t.co/chHV1Owegm
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) September 14, 2022
Mono! https://t.co/6bpukxIQoM
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) September 14, 2022
Mono strikes again. https://t.co/zWYs8vk8mZ
— Claude Thompson (@Th3Claude) September 14, 2022
get the graphic ready https://t.co/Q3uVhv6r7m
— tryler (@tylerlauletta) September 14, 2022
https://t.co/aLX266n6FI pic.twitter.com/3U00Pwvn33
— Stephen Clarke (@s_clarke25) September 14, 2022
Next week you’ll tell me he’s seeing ghosts? https://t.co/U6Y5bpvrms
— Rhett Matthew (@Rhettakus) September 14, 2022
The Bears’ offensive line is still very much in flux, so it still appears very possible that he could be able to obtain a starting spot when he can return in the coming weeks.
