No word on when Long will return
BOURBONNAIS — Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long is day- to- day with a strained left calf muscle. But after last year’s experience with Alshon Jeffery’s calf strain — he missed the entire preseason — “out indefinitely” might be a little more accurate.
Long is optimistic, but even coach John Fox can’t say when Long will return. And he was sketchy when asked if Long needed an MRI exam.
“I don’t put time frames [ on injuries] because I don’t know, so I can’t tell you,” Fox said after practice Friday at Olivet Nazarene University. “We just take it day by day. When our medical people deem him healthy, he’ll be back. But they have all that [ including an MRI exam] at their disposal.”
Injury report
Rookie linebacker Leonard Floyd missed practice with an illness, even though he met the media Thursday.
Tight end Khari Lee ( shoulder), offensive lineman Nick Becton ( illness) and linebacker Roy Robertson- Harris ( illness) did not practice. Cornerback Brandon Boykin ( pectoral strain) and defensive tackle Terry Williams ( shoulder strain) were injured in practice. Linebacker Pernell McPhee ( knee), guard Amini Silatolu ( knee) and wide receiver Marquess Wilson ( broken foot) remain on the physically unableto- perform ( PUP) list.
The warmer- than- expected weather Friday seemed to have an effect on some players. Cornerback Bryce Callahan, wide receiver Josh Bellamy and defensive end Ego Ferguson all had issues with cramps.
Bears cut LeCompte
The punting competition was a short one. Ben LeCompte, the undrafted rookie from North Dakota State, was cut after two days.
LeCompte, who grew up in Barrington, thanked the Bears on social media: “Growing up as a kid my biggest dream was to put on a Chicago Bears uniform. It was cut a little short but unfortunately sometimes that’s the business. … Thank you to Chicago and the whole Bears organization for everything. # Beardown.”
Buchholz returns
The Bears re- signed 6- 4, 301- pound offensive lineman Dan Buchholz, an undrafted rookie from Duquesne, who was cut shortly after signing with the Bears following the draft. Buchholz played tackle in college, but he can play center.
Coach Vasher?
Former Bears Pro Bowl cornerback Nathan Vasher and eight- time Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae are working with the Bears as part of the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship program.
“Everybody kind of searches for what they want to do when they retire from the game at a very young age. Some have coaching in them; some don’t,” Fox said. “Kevin was a very smart player in his career. He can help in the NFL in the coaching profession.”