SPORTSTHURSDAY, CAMPED UP
Bears primed to prove they’re’ better than most outsiders believe
BOURBONNAIS — Linebacker Pernell McPhee will open training camp on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list as he continues his recovery from offseason knee surgery.
McPhee can be activated at any time, but it might be awhile. General manager Ryan Pace could not predict when McPhee will participate in practice, saying it’s too early to tell if he’ll even play in the preseason.
The Bears are taking a cautious approach after McPhee struggled to play through the injury last season. He’ll work with trainer Nate Breske and strengthand-conditioning coach Jason George until he’s ready to withstand the rigors of training camp.
“We’ve just got to acclimate him into football activities, so he’ll work with the trainers,” Pace said Wednesday. “The good thing is he came in at a good weight [the upper 270s]. So I know he’s been working hard over the summer, and that’s very encouraging. . . . Now it’s going to be, ‘Hey, Nate and Jason, how do you feel?’ as we build him back instead of throwing him out there right away with full-speed football drills.”
After signing a five-year, $38.75 million contract ($15 million guaranteed), McPhee played well in the first half of the season — he had seven tackles for loss, including five sacks, in a five-game stretch from Weeks 3 to 7. But he struggled with a knee injury in the second half. He missed two games and was much less effective in his last seven (one sack, three tackles for loss).
McPhee had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason and missed most of the offseason program, including all OTAs and minicamp workouts.
The Bears are hoping that a lighter McPhee will be able to avoid further knee problems. He played in the 280s last year. They’d like him 10 pounds lighter this season.
“Just talking to our sports-science staff, we feel if he can play in the 270s, he’s going to be quicker, better on the knee and still maintain the same power,” Pace said. “The lighter you are, the less pressure on your knees. So playing at a lighter weight is going to be better for him because he’s always going to be strong. He’s just got to keep his weight down a little bit.”