Chicago Bears facing many roster decisions

Injuries and inconsistency have left the Chicago Bears with too many moving parts and uncertainties less than two weeks before the regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

And that's not even counting wide receiver, where the top four currently are unavailable and you can't tell the players without a three-deep depth chart.

In the aftermath of the Bears' disheartening loss Saturday to the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday's practice saw the return of former starter Jordan Mills to right tackle after he was benched in favor of Charles Leno two weeks ago.

The Leno experiment was as short-lived as it was ineffective.

So it's back to Square One for a starting offensive line that has been unimpressive while failing to pave the way to the end zone through three preseason games.

Neither Mills nor Leno have played well enough to lock down the starting job, so the on-again, off-again speculation about moving Pro Bowl right guard Kyle Long to right tackle is on again.

That move would likely see veteran backup Vlad Ducasse promoted to right guard, although Michael Ola started one game at that position last year in addition to six games at left guard, two at left tackle and three at right tackle.

“I don't want to get too much into our depth chart and whatnot, but we've got options,” coach John Fox said when asked about right tackle.

“We've got guys we're looking at. To say it's perfectly settled at this point is probably not the case. But I think that's the case at a lot of positions.”

To repeat, not a good sign, especially considering the Bears' first three games are against 2014 playoff teams that had a combined 35-13 record last season.

The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks are next up after the Packers.

Cornerback looked different Monday as well, with veteran free-agent pickup Alan Ball replacing Tim Jennings, who was waived Sunday.

Ball's 2014 season was cut short by a biceps injury, and while he was sidelined he also had surgery that he described as a “cleanup” for chronic ankle issues.

So he has been brought along slowly. But the release of Jennings seems to show that the coaching staff believes the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Ball is ready.

“He's got length,” Fox said. “He's played at a high level, he's adapted to our system very well, and he's produced since he's been here.”

The 30-year-old, eighth-year veteran has started 44 games, including 22 in the past two years, and played in 83 with 6 career interceptions.

Nose tackle is another area of concern.

Starter Jeremiah Ratliff will miss the first three games due to a league suspension for a DUI arrest, and he suffered an ankle injury Saturday against the Bengals that could keep him out longer than that.

“I'll say he's week to week,” Fox said. “We'll try to get him healthy, and when he's cleared to play health-wise, he'll play.”

Rookie Eddie Goldman, Ratliff's top backup, suffered a concussion at Cincinnati and missed practice Monday, leaving undrafted rookie Terry Williams as the only true nose tackle who's healthy.

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