Dvoracek Done... Again

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 25, 2009 2:20PM

No, this post is not a repeat from 2008. Or 2007. Or 2006. For the fourth time in as many years, Bears defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek has apparently suffered a season-ending injury. Dvoracek left Saturday night's preseason game against the New York Giants with a knee injury, and while he was seen with his right heavily wrapped in ice afterward, he declared it to be fine. However, rumors of a scheduled MRI alluded to the fact it might be more serious. After the tests, coach Lovie Smith called it a sprained MCL, but the Sun-Times reports Dvoracek has a torn ACL in his right knee, as well, and he's finished for the year. We'll see how long before the Bears place him on the injured reserve list to make it official.

In his fourth season with the Bears, the snake-bitten DT has played in all of 13 games, making him kind of like the Mark Prior of the NFL. His rookie season in 2006 ended before it began after he suffered an injury during a preseason game. In 2007, he stayed healthy long enough to win the starting nose tackle spot, and started the season opener before going down in week one. Dvoracek's trip to the IR last season didn't come until December, when he tore a bicep in week 13. And we thought former Bears safety Mike Brown was fragile.

When you've got a player like Dvoracek atop the depth chart, any good GM knows to stockpile talent at that position. Fortunately, the Bears have some depth on their front line; even if Dvoracek is no longer in the picture, Anthony Adams and Marcus Harrison continue to battle for the starting nose tackle position.