With Prospect High School as their setting, the Bears continued to prepare themselves for a future without guard Kyle Long.
Long returned to practice Thursday but didn’t participate after undergoing treatment on his surgically repaired right ankle a day earlier.
Coach John Fox said Long met with the doctor who originally performed his surgery in December in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“It was pretty convenient,” Fox said. “We actually planned it about a week ago. It’s just timed that way. I thought it went well. And we held him back today. The treatment they did usually requires 24 hours off, but he feels a lot better. We’re excited to get him going again.”
Fox didn’t specify which treatment Long underwent, but platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which promote healing, can require a downtime of 24 hours.
With Long out, Hroniss Grasu practiced at center with the first-team offense, and Cody Whitehair was at left guard.
It’s a look the Bears experimented with in Bourbonnais, but it also could be their starting look Saturday in the preseason game against the Cardinals.
“There is flexibility that we need in the line,” Fox said. “We’ll see how it goes and how we start. We still haven’t met in really how we’re going to approach the game as a staff yet.”
Another possibility is keeping Whitehair at center and playing Grasu at left guard.
“[Grasu is] going to have to know both,” Fox said. “He’s going to have reps at both.”
QB order
The Bears will maintain the same order at quarterback against the Cardinals: starter Mike Glennon, backup Mark Sanchez, then No. 3 Mitch Trubisky.
In and out
Linebackers Danny Trevathan (knee) and Nick Kwiatkoski (concussion) and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (sore Achilles tendon) participated in practice in various capacities.
† Cornerback Prince Amukamara (hamstring), defensive lineman Mitch Unrein (concussion) and nickel back Bryce Callahan (ankle) did not participate.
Follow me on Twitter @adamjahns.
Email: ajahns@suntimes.com
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