Chicago Bears strong-side linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa has been ruled out of Sunday’s game with swelling in his right knee.
Tinoisamoa will miss his second game and three weeks, and he will be replaced by veteran Nick Roach, who filled in for him Nov. 18 at Miami. Roach has 25 career starts and made 15 last season when Tinoisamoa missed nearly the entire season with two knee injuries.
According to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune, there isn’t concern now that Tinoisamoa will require arthroscopic surgery. But he’s played very well this season, and the Bears would like him in place for the stretch run and potentially the playoffs.
“We feel like we're pretty deep,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “A lot of the backups have played a lot. Nick has started a lot of games for us. That lightens the load a little bit. With Pisa missing, we hopefully won't miss a beat.”
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune