The Chicago Bears continued to have some scares on the injury front during Wednesday’s practice in Bourbonnais, but they finally began to get some good news as well.
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who missed Monday’s practice with a sore foot, was back on the field after the team’s off-day Tuesday. Right guard Kyle Long still wasn’t on the field with his teammates Wednesday as he continues to deal with a viral infection, but according to head coach Marc Trestman, he’s been cleared to begin conditioning work and could return to practice soon.
Finally, Tim Jennings also was on the field for some work on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a quad injury that has cost him several early practices in training camp.
The Bears did get some bad health news on one player however, as back-up offensive lineman Eben Britton was carted off the field after suffering an injury in a one-on-one drill against Jeremiah Ratliff. The injury isn’t believed to be serious, with Trestman saying that Britton is day-to-day with a pulled hamstring.
Wide receiver Terrance Tolliver is also still out of practice for the time being with a toe injury, and safeties Chris Conte and Craig Steltz remain out for the Bears.
Obviously the biggest news of the day for the Bears is that Long is close to returning, but it’s likely too late for him to play in the team’s first preseason game on August 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. While conditioning work the next few days will get him closer to the field, the team only has six practices remaining before that tilt, and it wouldn’t seem prudent for Trestman to rush Long back for a game that he would only play for the first few series with the first-teamers.
