Bears cut Jordan Mills; Kyle Long likely to start at right tackle
The Chicago Bears trimmed their roster down to 53 men on Saturday. Guard Michael Ola, tight end Dante Rosario and linebackers David Bass and Mason Foster were among the original cuts, per the team's official website.
However, a day later, the Bears also cut right tackle Jordan Mills and safety Sherrod Martin in order to claim guard Patrick Omameh and defensive back Harold Jones-Quartey off waivers, according to Chris Emma of CBS Chicago.
Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports that the release of Mills means Pro Bowl right guard Kyle Long is likely to bump over to tackle, a position he has been practicing since the spring. In turn, Vladimir Ducasse will be expected to step in and start at guard.
"I'm just trying to be as dialed in as I can in the spots I'm possibly going to be in," Long said, per the Chicago Tribune. "There's a lot of studying and a lot of technique that comes into it."
Long, 26, enters his third season as a consistent starter. He's the most talented offensive lineman the Bears have, so head coach John Fox isn't sweating his transition.
"He's probably a guy I'm least concerned about confidence with on our football team," Fox said, via the Chicago Tribune. "He's a pretty good player and a pretty confident guy."
With the regular season set to begin in less than a week, the Bears are still scrambling. Moving Long from guard to tackle may help stabilize a shaky Chicago offense just in time for kickoff.
(h/t Chicago Bears, CBS Chicago, Chicago Tribune)
