John Fox: Bears moving on from Ray McDonald

Ray McDonald knew the conditions of his brief Bears employment, coach John Fox said Wednesday.

“Obviously we gave him a second chance, and everybody knew the parameters,” Fox said after the Bears’ Organized Team Activity practice at Halas Hall. “I think those were pretty well-documented, and we moved on.”

The defensive end was arrested early May 25 on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence and child endangerment, and released by the Bears later in the day. He was arrested again two days later on suspicion of violating a restraining order.

The Bears have “capable guys” to take his place, the coach said in his first comments since McDonald’s arrest.

“That’s what we’re doing now in the middle of these OTAs,” he said. “We’re six OTAs in and somebody will rise to the (top). It’s kind of where everybody in the league is at this point in time in the offseason, and we’re no different.”

Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who shares McDonald’s hometown of Pahokee, Fla., said the Bears aren’t doing much different with him gone. Practices when McDonald was a Bear were more like walk-throughs, anyway, he said.

McDonald was “a great guy,” McPhee claimed.

“Sad that happened to him,” he said. “And, hopefully, one day, he gets another shot.”

Houston, Young ‘on target’

Outside linebackers Lamarr Houston and Willie Young continued their rehabilitation Wednesday and are “week-to-week,” Fox said, without elaborating.

“They’re going through their rehab,” Fox said. “They’re with the medical staff now. They do an outstanding job.

“They’re on target, and we’ll see when they get back out there.”

Houston, infamously, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee celebrating his lone sack of the season Oct. 27 against the Patriots.

Young tore his left Achilles’ tendon Dec. 21, a crushing end to his career season.

Both are moving from defensive end to outside linebacker in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense.

This and that

• Neither right guard Kyle Long nor left tackle Jermon Bushrod participated in Wednesday’s practice. Fox does not comment about the reasons why.

• Fox said left guard Matt Slauson has “really attacked the offseason,” assuming a greater leadership role after recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that cost him the second half the season

“Last year — and he’d probably tell you the same thing — it was frustrating,” Fox said. “Any time you get injured as a player, and you’re not able to go out there with your teammates, it’s a tough pill to swallow.”

• Safety Antrel Rolle was back at OTAs; he missed practice a week earlier after welcoming a baby daughter.

• Outside linebacker Sam Acho has been “an excellent addition,” Fox said, because he’s helped younger players learn the 3-4.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

Twitter: @patrickfinley