The night before games, Kyle Long lays out his clothes, snaps a picture and sends it to Jay Cutler. He asks whether his outfit matches.
“Let me clear this up: Cutler does not dress me,” the Bears right guard said with a smile Monday at Halas Hall. “I just want to make sure I don’t look like an idiot when I walk out the door.“
The quarterback is well served to help Long any way he can; the second-year player has been the Bears’ most consistent offensive lineman in a season in which every other starter has missed games with injuries.
Thursday, Long more than held his own against the Lions’ Ndamukong Suh, who managed only one quarterback hit against Cutler.
“He had the best game of all the linemen,” offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said. “He’s matured a player where he understands, he’s seeing the game better, understanding what defenses are doing and slowing the game down for himself and that is the biggest difference.
“Like any young player, the game seems fast and you try to play faster than you need to play and you get yourself out of position.
“When he does play with the correct tempo and that is what he has done more often this year, it helps our offense.”
Cutler said Long has “locked down” his position.
“He’s fun to watch,” Cutler said. “Whenever he got here, just a really raw talent. You could see that he was going to develop into a great player. “
Long credited his quarterback for his growth.
“Aside from the lighter side of being my big brother, so to speak, there is a coaching side to it that Jay does a really good job with,” said Long, who practiced in full despite a calf injury. “He can reel me in. being an ADD kid, I’m all over the place.”
Conte evaluated
Safety Chris Conte was indeed evaluated for a concussion Thursday, coach Marc Trestman said, though he passed. The Bears first said he left the game to be tested, and then ruled him out with an eye injury.
The safety missed practice Monday because of his eye, as did defensive end Cornelius Washington (chest) and returner Chris Williams (hamstring).
Trestman the Bears were “still trying to get some clarity” about Conte’s eye.
This and that
• Tight end Martellus Bennett (foot), wideout Alshon Jeffery (hamstring), cornerback Tim Jennings (groin) and defensive end Jeremiah Ratliff (knee) were starters all limited in practice. So were defensive end Trevor Scott (knee) and linebacker Darryl Sharpton (hamstring).
• Dallas defensive end George Selvie (thumb), who started Thursday, was limited Monday. No others Cowboys starters missed practice.
Email: pfinley@suntimes.com
Twitter: @patrickfinley
