FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller had arthroscopic knee surgery this week, coach John Fox said Thursday night. And while the coach maintained his policy of not predicting medical timelines — “I’m calling it week to week,” he said — it seems like the third-year cornerback will be pushing to return around the start of the regular-season.
“Injuries kinda get in the way of progress,” Fox said. “It was kinda getting worse and worse. It was something that didn’t get better. I’m not a big fan of doing the same old stuff.”
The Bears left Fuller at home this week, citing knee pain that had predated the start of training camp.
“It was kinda bothering him,” Fox said. “We wanted to see and get it fixed. When he gets medically cleared, he’ll be back out there. It’s hard for me to predict when that’s gonna be.”
Cornerback Tracy Porter said he’ll continue to mentor the Bears’ young cornerbacks who will be vying to replace Fuller — at least in the preseason.
There will be opportunity. Cornerback Jacoby Glenn left Thursday’s game and was placed in concussion protocol, while Bryce Callahan sat out with a hamstring injury.
More injuries
Fox revealed Danny Trevathan did not play Thursday night because he has a hamstring strain. When he didn’t practice Tuesday, Fox said simply he was resting the inside linebacker.
Tight end Zach Miller didn’t suit up, either. Miller went into concussion protocol Aug. 1 and returned to practice Saturday, but missed Tuesday’s practice for a doctor’s appointment. When he returned for Wednesday’s walkthrough, he claimed he did not suffer a setback.
Two other Bears players left Thursday’s game, Fox said: tight end Tony Moeaki (left hamstring) and receiver Deonte Thompson (knee/ankle), who was taken to the locker room in a cart.
Pernell works out
Pernell McPhee took the latest step in his rehab Thursday, working with trainers on the Gillette Stadium turf three hours before kickoff of the Bears’ second preseason game. He had offseason arthroscopic surgery and will likely have to monitor his knee, to some extent, for the rest of his career.
Defensive end Cornelius Washington (ankle, knee) and tight end Ben Braunecker (ankle) worked out alongside McPhee. Neither played.
This and that
• Other Bears who sat: receiver Derek Keaton (leg), receiver Eddie Royal (concussion), running back Ka’Deem Carey (concussion) and inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (hamstring).
• Former Bears first-round pick Shea McClellin sat out after not practicing all week with the Patriots.
• The Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski, who left practice early Monday and never returned, did not play Sunday.
• Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long attended the game to watch his sons Chris and Kyle face each other.
• Former Bears tight end Martellus Bennett told reporters in the Patriots locker room that he would not talk after the game.
