Bears left tackle Jermon Bushrod stressing patience with his calf injury

BOURBONNAIS — The walking boot is gone, but Bears left tackle Jermon Bushrod’s recovery from a right calf strain isn’t over. He’s being as patient and diligent with it as he can.

“It’s always good to be out of that boot, man,” Bushrod said before Friday’s practice. “I had to do that for precautionary reasons. So I’ve got to go with what the training room says, and it’s all about this team. I just want to get back, but I can’t rush it.”

Bushrod wouldn’t say whether he underwent an MRI, but he’s undergoing daily treatment and did say that this is the first time he’s suffered such an injury. He strained his calf during warmups on Monday.

“I don’t like missing practice,” said Bushrod, who got a five-year deal from the Bears to be their starting left tackle. “I don’t like being out. Working hard, it’s tough, but I get excited about coming out here and working on little things day in and day out. For me not to be out there and grind with these guys, it’s not fun.”

The Bears’ first preseason game is next Friday against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Bushrod said playing in it would beneficial, but he’ll side with caution.

“It would be nice to get out there and put some of this hard work that we’ve been doing out there against another opponent,” Bushord said. “But as I’ve said before, I do not want to get it to the point where I’m out even longer.”

Bushrod’s absence has allowed offensive coordinator/line coach Aaron Kromer to see what others such as Eben Britton and J’Marcus Webb can do at left tackle in their new scheme.

Bushrod, meanwhile, is doing everything he can to stay involved with the progress of the line. Having played for Kromer in New Orleans, Bushrod is very familiar with what he is installing.

“I’m helping out as much as I can, especially me just being another set of eyes out there,” Bushrod said. “It helps me out too so I can see more looks and what our defense is doing. I’m just trying to help out in any way I can right now.

“All these guys know that I come from this system. I know lot about it, especially coming from the offensive-line standpoint. So whenever they have a question, I’m there. Whenever I can help out, I’m there.”

But Bushrod knows the best way he can help the Bears right now is by getting healthy.

“I want to be out here for my team,” he said. “So the more days I can strengthen this thing back up and get it feeling 100 [percent], then I’ll be ready to go.”