Linebacker Pernell McPhee on PUP list

BOURBONNAIS — For once, the Bears thought they had some good health news. They thought might actually avoid the physically unable-to-perform list altogether.

The Bears had three candidates for the PUP list —guard Kyle Long, linebacker Danny Trevathan and tight end Zach Miller. General manager Ryan Pace wasn’t definitive that no one would start the season on the PUP list — the Bears had afternoon physicals at Olivet Nazarene University — but he sounded optimistic they’d avoid any designation. The team had until the start of practice at 11:15 a.m. Thursday to make the decision.

Then there was the surprise announcement that linebacker Pernell McPhee would be on the PUP list.

One former Pro Bowl player won’t be on the field Thursday; guard Josh Sitton will likely be out until Saturday because he and his wife have a new baby, coach John Fox said.

A relatively healthy roster would be a welcome change for a team decimated by injuries last season.

Long is still recovering from right ankle surgery in November that was complicated by an adverse reaction to medication. He’d planned to have left shoulder surgery in February, too, but decided against it. He played with the shoulder injury last season.

Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan is rehabbing from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee suffered against the Titans in November. Pace said Thursday that there’s a chance Trevathan might not start camp on the PUP list.

Tight end Zach Miller is recovering after undergoing right foot surgery in November. During mandatory minicamp, coach John Fox said Trevathan and Miller were “going to be cutting it close” for the start of camp, while Long would be “touch-and-go.”

Receiver Cam Meredith and quarterback Mark Sanchez, who suffered minor injuries during OTAs, will be ready to practice, too.