CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears could be out another starter on their already ailing defense as defensive tackle Stephen Paea left during the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a toe injury.
Paea suffered the injury during the second quarter, but the team didn't announce he'd miss the rest of the game until the third quarter. If Paea is forced to miss time, he'll become the third defensive tackle forced out of action this season for the Bears. The club lost franchise defensive tackle Henry Melton earlier in the season with a torn ACL, and his replacement, Nate Collins, also suffered a season-ending knee injury.
A third-year veteran, Paea already had missed games on Oct. 6 and Oct. 10 due to a nagging turf-toe injury.
Because of all the injuries up front, the Bears lined up with their sixth combination of starters on the defensive line in 10 games. The team was already without defensive end Shea McClellin, who has missed the last two games due to a strained hamstring.
In all, eight starters for the Bears have missed multiple games due to injuries with linebacker D.J. Williams and cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Kelvin Hayden also suffering season-ending injuries.