Doug

Kramer Jr.

Kramer is the backup center to starter Lucas Patrick but is one of two offensive linemen the Bears recently placed on injured reserve. Kramer’s loss will carry more of an impact if Patrick were to miss any time, as Kramer is now required to miss at least the first four games with this IR designation. The Bears also placed guard Teven Jenkins on IR earlier this week.

The Bears entered camp with one of the league’s weakest offensive lines and things are now going from bad to worse. Patrick joined the Bears on a two-year, $8 million deal this offseason. He started 28 games for the Packers over the past two seasons. If Patrick is out for the start of the season, sixth-round pick Doug Kramer may be forced into a starting role as a rookie.

Kramer (6'2/299) redshirted in 2016 and then played five seasons for Illinois at center. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has praised his fundamentals and use of leverage. However, Kramer’s 29.5-inch arms will put him at a disadvantage against NFL defenders. Turning 24 in June, Kramer will likely begin his career as a backup, but could eventually work into a starting role.

Coach Bret Bielema said Kramer “is back with us, should be full-go the whole week leading up to practice...” Kramer was one of the best pass blockers in 2018 and 2019, and will be a huge re-addition to an Illini squad looking to turn their season around.

Kramer (6'2/300) left last week’s contest against Virginia and did not return. It is expected that left guard Blake Jeresaty will replace Kramer at center, and that either Alex Pihlstrom or or Jack Badovinac will replace Jeresaty at guard. Kramer was one of the top rated pass blockers in the nation per Pro Football Focus in 2018 and 2019 but struggled in 2020.

Kramer (6'2/300) is going on his fourth year as a starter for Illinois. After a solid redshirt freshman year in 2017 in which he started eight games, Kramer really came into his own over the following two years, putting up PFF’s fifth-best pressure rate allowed over that span. According to PFF, Kramer also crushed it in run blocking. He earned their 13th-best run blocking grade for 2019.