Bears Notes: John Fox Keeps Shifting Kyle Long Around

(CBS) Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long got a taste of playing right tackle for the Bears last week at OTAs and Tuesday. On Wednesday at the second day of mandatory mini-camp, he was in another new spot.

With new coach John Fox wanting his offensive line to be versatile and prepared for anything this season, Long took reps at left tackle, the most prestigious spot on the line. Long switched spots with Charles Leno as Jermon Bushrod and Jordan Mills, last year's starters, remain sidelined.

Fox emphasized he'll continue to move players around so they're prepared for anything.

"It's not where you start the race, it's where you finish," Fox said. "I can't predict what's going to happen at camp. I know we will move people, because I think it's important -- you're getting ready for a marathon. There's a lot of things that can happen throughout a season, and there's going to be things that happen where guys are going to have to be in different spots. We'll have a next-man-up approach, whether that's the O-line or any other spot."

The Bears haven't committed to moving Long to tackle, but they're committed under the new regime to having options.

"It's an injustice to just throw a guy, as simple as it sounds, from left to right, whether you're doing it with a corner, an outside backer, a guard, a tackle, they need to practice it," Fox said. "This is a good time of year to get the techniques, the sets and all the different communication that has to happen with the O-line, getting that valuable reps and experience."

Fox pleased with McPhee in early going

The Bears' biggest splash in the free agent market came when they inked edge rusher Pernell McPhee to a five-year deal worth about $40 million. Fox has been impressed with what he's seen thus far.

"Strength -- he's a powerful man," Fox said. "When you put him over a tight end or a tackle, he matches up well. I think right now, his strengths are more going forward than backward. So I see a big, powerful guy that's got some flexibility in the system, whether it's in a 30 scheme where he's a penetrator and rushing inside or even off the edge."

Notes

The Bears are giving defensive back Sherrod Martin and running back Daniel Thomas tryouts this week … First-round draft pick and rookie receiver Kevin White is dealing with an undisclosed injury … Cornerback Kyle Fuller has been returning punts in mini-camp, but Fox added it's too early to evaluate the return game … Second-round draft pick and rookie defensive tackle Eddie Goldman has pleased Fox so far. "He's picking up the defense," Fox said. "There's some movement things at nose (tackle) that you have to know, some close-call mechanics are different from what these guys have experienced in college. I like what I've seen. He's working at it hard, and he's a big, square body."