Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Bears decline to put timetable on Kyle Long (calf) return

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach John Fox declined to provide a timetable on the return of Pro Bowl right guard Kyle Long, who suffered a left calf strain near the end of Thursday’s practice.

“You know I don't put time frames because I don't know and so I can't tell you,” Fox said. “We just take it day to day, you know, it's a calf strain. It was mentioned that he's in a [walking] boot, well, that kind of helps facilitate the healing of a calf strain.”

Long did not attend practice on Friday, but did eat lunch at the ONU dining hall with a protective walking boot still on his left leg to stabilize the injury.

Fox would not say if Long underwent an MRI on the injured calf, only that, “we're doing all of the evaluations and when our medical people deem him healthy, he'll be back.”

With Long unavailable, the Bears turned to veteran Ted Larsen on Friday to take over at right guard.

One positive is Larsen brings a wealth of experience to the table. Larsen made 57 career starts for Tampa Bay and Arizona from 2010-15 before signing with Chicago in the offseason. Even before Long's injury, the Bears expected Larsen, who received a $350,000 signing bonus, to compete for a starting job either at guard or center.

“I mean we've got numerous possibilities, but that's who [Larsen] we've kind of plugged in there for now,” Fox said. “He's new to us as far as he wasn't with the team a year ago. We had him during the offseason. He actually had a setback with a calf strain in the offseason, so it's obviously helpful to have some veteran leadership there for sure.”

Despite vowing to practice on Friday, rookie Leonard Floyd stayed off the field due to an illness. The Bears’ medical staff clearly wanted to err on the side of caution with Floyd, who had to be driven on a cart back to the locker room the previous day. Floyd’s situation is not considered serious.

In addition to Long and Floyd, tight end Khari Lee (shoulder), offensive lineman Nick Becton (illness), and linebacker Roy Robertson-Harris sat out Friday’s non-padded session. Defensive back Brandon Boykin (pectoral strain) and defensive lineman Terry Williams (shoulder) were dinged up during the workout.

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