Stuck on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 1, rookie right tackle Larry Borom worked on his technique in slow motion. He moved the furniture out of his living room and practiced keeping his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. He recorded the actions with his phone and sent them to offensive line coach Juan Castillo, who evaluated the movements over the last seven weeks.
“It’s becoming natural,” Castillo said, “even though you’re not going full speed.”
Borom got to full speed quickly — and then hyperdrive.
The Missouri alum returned to practice Oct. 27 — and four days later was blocking 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa in his first NFL start. The 49ers moved Bosa over from his natural side specifically to test the rookie. The Steelers could do the same with all-world edge rusher T.J. Watt, who Borom said “can do things other people can’t” because of his strength and speed.
“It didn’t really faze me that much,” Borom said Friday when asked about his first start. “I knew I had to fall back on my technique and things I’ve been taught, and that’s what I did.”
Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor liked what he saw.
“There was zero hesitation from him,” he said. “There was zero fear from him. When we called quick protections, he went and was aggressive and got his hands on him. I thought for the scenario he went through of missing so much time and having played so little NFL football, to be up against such a good player and play the way he did was very good. You just have to expect it’s only gonna get better.”
If he does, the fifth-round pick can be the Bears’ starting right tackle for the next four years. He’d make an affordable tandem with second-round pick Teven Jenkins, who is recovering from back surgery, at left tackle. Jenkins was spotted running up the Bears’ training hill during practice Friday, an uptick in public activity from recent weeks. The Bears haven’t ruled out his return from injured reserve at some point this season.
Injury report
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who has been fighting a foot problem since Week 3 and missed the game against the 49ers, and safety Eddie Jackson, who hurt his hamstring against San Francisco, remained out of practice Friday for a second straight day.
Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree (ankle), tight end J.P. Holtz (concussion) and running back Damien Williams (knee) didn’t participate for a second straight day, either.
Wide receiver Darnell Mooney was added to the injury report with a groin issue. He was limited in practice.
Still no Foles
Third-string quarterback Nick Foles was not in attendance for the second straight day for a personal reason.
Coach Matt Nagy has not been available for comment since before practice Wednesday to provide any further detail on Foles, whose absence, perhaps coincidentally, corresponded with the passing of the trade deadline Tuesday.
