Nine weeks after injuring his right foot — once feared to be a season-ending setback — guard Kyle Long is back.
The Bears activated Long from injured reserve Saturday, clearing the way for him to play — if not start — in the regular-season finale Sunday in Minneapolis. To make room, they waived quarterback Tyler Bray, who could return to the practice squad for the postseason.
The game will serve as a tuneup for Long before his first career playoff game. He admitted Friday that it was a different feeling.
“Now it’s, ‘We’re going to be here for a while,’ ” he said. “Get settled in. Playoffs are coming.”
Long said Friday that limiting him to a snap count “would probably be the smart thing to do,” while coach Matt Nagy said he’d “feel pretty good with him playing most of the game.” The Bears will monitor Long’s conditioning as the game goes on.
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Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (right elbow) was downgraded from doubtful to out when he did not travel with the team. Safety Eddie Jackson (right ankle) and wide receiver Allen Robinson (ribs) made the trip but are doubtful.
NOTE: Bears wide receivers Josh Bellamy and Anthony Miller were each fined $10,026 for unnecessary roughness during the fight against the 49ers, a source confirmed.
Bellamy, Miller and 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman were ejected. Sherman and 49ers safety Marcell Harris, whose hit on a sliding Mitch Trubisky started the skirmish, also were fined.
