National Football League

Injuries hitting Bears hard on offense and defense

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:33 p.m. ET

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) By now, the Chicago Bears hoped to be past the injuries plaguing them since training camp began.

Instead, with Saturday's dress rehearsal for the regular season approaching in the third preseason game against Kansas City, the Bears' injury situation only seems to get worse by the day.

''We've got plenty of bodies - we're at 90 players,'' coach John Fox said Sunday. ''At this point you've got plenty of guys out here.

''It gives us a chance to look at some other guys and give them an opportunity to catch our eye.''

The Bears had 20 players either injured or sitting out for rest Sunday when they returned to Halas Hall for practice, after losing 23-22 Thursday to the New England Patriots.

They even found they'd lost a few more players due to in-game injuries that cropped up a day later.

Starting running back Jeremy Langford wore a boot cast on an injured left foot and watched from the sideline on Saturday night during a practice held at north suburban Warren High School. The injury occurred in Thursday's game but wasn't evident until the next day.

Starting right guard Kyle Long also missed practices Saturday and Sunday. He's suffering from a shoulder injury.

''I think he's a great player and obviously I'd rather have him out there practicing,'' Fox said about Long, a three-time Pro Bowl player. ''But our goal right now is to get ready for the opener in Houston.''

Langford had the boot cast off at Sunday's practice, but a date for his return is uncertain.

The health situation looks no better on defense, where inside linebacker Danny Trevathan missed the last two practices with a pulled hamstring and the right cornerback position has been a revolving door to the trainer's room.

Prior to the game against New England, starting cornerback Kyle Fuller underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

''It was something that he tried to push through,'' Fox said. ''He showed great determination in doing that. It just wasn't improving.

''They did the scope and hopefully he'll come back fast and furious.''

Then Fuller's backup, Bryce Callahan, missed the last two practices with a pulled hamstring. Jacoby Glenn, who replaced Callahan, suffered a concussion against New England.

As a result, starting left cornerback Tracy Porter has found himself on the field trying to coach young players in addition to playing.

''I'm watching those guys, what they're doing, if they're having a missed assignment or having a not-so-good technique that I can help them with,'' Porter said.

He's trying to instill confidence in rookie fourth-round pick Deiondre' Hall, and other inexperienced players who've been tried at the spot.

''At that position you have to have a ton of confidence, because if you don't, it's like quarterbacks, they can sense that and you'll have a long night,'' Porter said.

NOTES: Wide receiver Eddie Royal and running back Ka'Deem Carey returned to practice Saturday on a limited basis after suffering concussions. Royal had been out since July 31.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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