When training camp opened, Bears guard Kyle Long missed a bit of time with a calf injury but he returned well ahead of the start of the preseason schedule.
The Bears are hoping that the same will be true of a shoulder injury that has kept him out of the last three practices. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that it is a labrum issue and that the team is evaluating how serious an issue it is. Biggs quotes one source as being “not optimistic” while another expressed confidence that Long will be ready for the regular season.
Coach John Fox wasn’t breaking any ties on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t really matter what I think,” Fox said. “There are medical people involved and when he’s cleared, he’ll play.”
The Bears have already lost center Hroniss Grasu for the season to a torn ACL, forcing them to move Ted Larsen to the pivot. Larsen kicked back over to guard to replace Long in a recent practice with Cornelius Edison playing center and the Bears also have Khaled Holmes and Amini Silatolu as interior depth should they need to fill in for Long in the coming weeks.