Bears activate guard Germain Ifedi as coronavirus quarantine ends

Germain Ifedi’s quarantine is over.

The Bears activated the starting right guard Friday, five days after his last close contact with tackle Jason Spriggs, who has coronavirus. He had to serve a five-day quarantine, per league rules, and was tested each day. Tests taken during the quarantine came back negative.

Ifedi’s return brings some sense of stability to the Bears’ offensive line, which will be without Week 1 starters Bobby Massie, James Daniels and Cody Whitehair on Sunday against the Titans. Two backups, Spriggs and Sam Mustipher, figure to miss the game as well. Mustipher has a knee injury.

Ifedi figures to play right guard, with Rashaad Coward filling in for Massie at right tackle. Alex Bars could play center, with rookie Arlington Hambright at left guard. Charles Leno will play tackle.

That presumes, of course, that the Bears haven’t been decimated by the close contacts of Whitehair, who tested positive for coronavirus Thursday. The Bears have yet to put he or any of his close contacts on the reserve/COVID-19 list.