Bears place TE Bennett on season-ending IR

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears placed tight end Martellus Bennett on injured reserve due to a ribs injury and signed tight end Rob Housler, the team announced on Tuesday.

Bennett is tied for ninth in receptions (53) among NFL tight ends. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014 after catching a career-high 90 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns.

Bennett injured his ribs in Chicago's loss to Denver on Nov. 22, and subsequently missed the team's next game versus the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.

Martellus Bennett had 53 receptions this season, the ninth-most among tight ends in the NFL.Bennett told reporters he did not watch the Bears' surprise victory at Lambeau Field live on television, opting…