Kyle Long’s poor injury luck has been well documented, but a new year brings another clean slate for the talented offensive lineman.
With that in mind, let’s embrace this bit of news from the last day of mandatory minicamp:
Nagy says #Bears RG Kyle Long is expected to be ready to go full speed when training camp arrives.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) June 7, 2018
Bears head coach Matt Nagy on Kyle Long’s health for training camp: “He’ll be good to go.” Long has had neck, shoulder, and elbow procedures this off season.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) June 7, 2018
Bears coach Matt Nagy said today he believes Kyle Long will be “good to go” by training camp.
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) June 7, 2018
Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy expects Long to be ready to go full-speed when training camp comes, which leaves me cautiously optimistic about the timetable for the three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman’s return. Long has participated in individual drills during OTAs, but the team has (wisely) decided to bring him along slowly this offseason.
Good news has surrounded Long and his recovery throughout the offseason. Long was “feeling great” in January, and the good vibes carried into February, as well as April, noting that this was the healthiest he has felt in years. Optimism has been abundant when it comes to Long’s progress since an offseason featuring surgeries he referred to as “minor standard-operating procedure offseason stuff.”
The latest is a positive sign for a player who has slowed by injuries in each of the last two seasons, to the point where he has missed 14 games over the last two seasons. But if Long is healthy, his presence will give the Bears’ offense a boost with the return of its most skilled lineman.