The Bears are taking a look at Kyle Long at tackle this week, but they’re not saying whether it’s just short-term cover for some absent teammates or part of a longer-term plan.
According to John Mullin of CSNChicago.com, the Bears moved their Pro Bowl guard to right tackle for the day. Of course, right tackle Jordan Mills was absent from practices, so it was easy to call that the reason for now.
“I’m so near-sighted I can’t really think past today or this week,” Long said. “I’ve always felt I could do it but who knows. We have guys that play right tackle so we’re going to figure out where we’re going to go. Right now they needed somebody in practice so I jumped at the opportunity.”
The Bears had Vladimir Ducasse at right guard as Long shifted over a spot, so it’s clearly not because they felt they had to get him in the lineup. But it’s worth noting that left tackle Jermon Bushrod had the day off but they didn’t use Long there, sticking 2014 seventh-rounder Charles Leno there with the starters.
As expected, John Fox said he values the versatility.
“He’s obviously a very, very capable athlete,” Fox said of Long. “He’s got great strength, great athleticism. So I think he’s capable of playing anywhere across the line.
“Right now he’s a starting guard, and we’re out here trying to get better as a football team, learn a new system. We had a shortage of tackles right now. We’ve got a couple guys in the training room. So we took a look at him there today. He can play just about anywhere across the O-line.”
Long’s athletic enough that an eventual move to tackle seemed in the cards since the day he was drafted in the first round, but the timing makes it worth noting as the Bears prepare for next week’s minicamp.