Bears place lineman Ryan Bates on injured reserve, elevate receiver Collin Johnson

What happened?

The Chicago Bears announced Tuesday that they have placed offensive lineman Ryan Bates on injured reserve and elevated wide receiver Collin Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster. Bates suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers. He is expected to miss at least four games. Johnson, a former fifth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been with the Bears since 2021. He has appeared in 12 games for Chicago, catching 10 passes for 133 yards.

What does this mean for the Bears?

Bates' injury is a blow to the Bears' offensive line. He started 13 games at left guard last season and was expected to be a key part of the team's offensive line this year. Johnson's elevation gives the Bears some much-needed depth at wide receiver. He is a big target (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) who can stretch the field. He could also be a red-zone threat for quarterback Justin Fields.

What's next?

The Bears will host the New York Giants on Sunday. It is unclear if Bates will be able to return for that game. Johnson is expected to make his Bears debut on Sunday.

Additional notes:

• Bates is the second Bears player to be placed on injured reserve this season. Defensive end Trevis Gipson was placed on injured reserve last week with a hamstring injury.
• Johnson is the third wide receiver to be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster this season. The other two are Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown.
• The Bears have a bye in Week 5. That will give Bates some extra time to recover from his injury.