Bears’ Kyle Long returns to practice, but two Pro Bowl players sit out

Mitch Trubisky sat out with a left shoulder injury — coach Matt Nagy said earlier Wednesday he wouldn’t play Sunday — and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks missed his fourth consecutive practice with a right knee problem.

SHARE Bears’ Kyle Long returns to practice, but two Pro Bowl players sit out
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Bears guard Kyle Long huddles with his teammates.

Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

Six Bears players —including two 2018 Pro Bowl players and two more starters — did not practice Wednesday.

Kyle Long, though, did.

The right guard returned to practice for the first time in a week after missing Sunday’s game with a hip injury. He was limited.

Inside linebacker Roquan Smith practiced in full three days after missing the Vikings game because of a personal issue.

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky sat out with a left shoulder injury — coach Matt Nagy said earlier Wednesday he wouldn’t play Sunday — and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks missed his fourth-straight practice with a right knee problem.

The Bears will fly to London on Thursday night. Nagy said the long flight will play some role in determining whether to bring injured players with them.

“That’s a part of the deal,” he said. “You have to at least be aware of it, and then you have to attack it the right way. You have to have a plan for them.”

Also out Wednesday was receiver Taylor Gabriel, who suffered a concussion during his three-touchdown game against the Redskins, and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols, who broke his right hand against the Broncos.

Inside linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (hamstring) and guard Ted Larsen (knee), who were hurt against the Vikings, also sat out.

Kicker back

Eddy Pineiro went through a full practice Wednesday for the first time since pinching a nerve in his right knee in the weight room Sept. 20.

“He’s getting better and better each day,” special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said.

Pineiro is working on keeping his right leg locked after he kicks.

“That’s where the pain’s coming through, so he has to concentrate on that part of his follow-through,” Tabor said. “He’s doing a good job managing that.”

He will go back to kickoffs eventually, Tabor said. Punter Pat O’Donnell has kicked off the last two games.

“Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done,” Tabor said of O’Donnell. “Then when he jumped in there to kick off, he didn’t even miss a beat. He had all touchbacks last week.”

‘Dynamic’ Tarik

Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich had an explanation for how Tarik Cohen managed to slip past a rushing Everson Griffen and beat the Vikings’ Anthony Barr on an out route for a 10-yard touchdown Sunday.

“He’s who he is — and we’re who we are,” Helfrich said. “He’s just dynamic.”

Cohen lined up in the backfield, slipped past the rusher and ran his route.

“He has a great feel for avoidance,” Nagy said. “But still being able to move forward or in that case, move at an angle but still gain ground and still attack the linebacker and threaten that guy with speed. That is a unique skill set.”

Helfrich said the Bears were trying to get that exact matchup — Cohen against Barr.

“Him in a one-on-one situation against a lot of linebackers is, ‘Advantage Bears,’” he said.

Raiders’ top pick sits

Defensive end Clelin Ferrell, the No. 4 overall pick, missed the Raiders’ practice Wednesday in London because of a concussion. Tyrell Jackson, whose 216 receiving yards rank second on the team, sat with a foot injury.  

Guard Gabe Jackson was out with a knee injury.

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