Where does Kyle Long belong?

Much thought will go into the off-season determination of where Kyle Long fits best on the offensive line.

A Pro Bowl guard in each of his first two seasons, Long was switched to right tackle a week before the start of the regular season and has struggled at times in an uneven season.

Long could stay at right tackle, move back to guard or be shifted again, to left tackle.

"We're going to go back and evaluate what we're going to do," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. We have a lot of eyes (in the personnel department) looking at our situation right now, that being one of them."

It's possible a decision won't be made until after free agency and the draft when the Bears reassess their roster and after the off-season self-scouting is complete.

"We have a chance to go back, evaluate what was good, what was bad and what we feel comfortable with," Gase said. "Then you have to figure out who we have on the roster - who's going to be here and who's not. We're still in that evaluation process, even with two games left.

"We need to figure out what our best five is going to be."

The only two certainties are that Long and left guard Matt Slauson will be somewhere in the lineup.

Mr. Versatility:

Cut by the San Diego Chargers after two games this season, defensive tackle Mitch Unrein didn't join the Bears until Sept. 25. But he's made contributions in multiple areas, including a career-best 30 tackles and his first NFL sack.

The 6-foot-4, 306-pound five-year veteran had 5 tackles vs. the Vikings while playing 45 snaps, he's on the kickoff-return team and has been used as a fullback in goal line situations.

"A real steady performer," said coach John Fox, who had Unrein handling the same duties for four years in Denver. "A professional. A guy who is going to have a lot of different roles. He's helped us in kickoff return. He plays goal line offense. He's smart and tough, and that goes a long way."

He has the mindset and other qualities that special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers appreciates.

"He loves contact," Rodgers said. "He's a really good athlete. He understands leverage. He actually has good hands. He's picked up a couple squib kicks. Mitch is just a really detailed, blue-collar guy, and he works at that stuff."

As long as Unrein is on the field with the offense in goal line situations, Fox was asked if there's any chance he could get the ball.

"He'd be on the list," Fox said. "But I don't know how high up the list."

Discount double-check:

It's a near-certainty that running back Matt Forte will be able to maximize his earnings as an unrestricted free agent in the off-season by signing with another team.

But it sounds like he might be amenable to a home-team discount.

"At this point I'm not worried about earning power and all that stuff," Forte said. "I've made money as a football player, and it's not about that to me. That's what we talked about in the off-season when I talked to (general manager) Ryan Pace. I was like, 'I have a high cap number, let's do something (like a contract extension with a restructuring) now, where it's reasonable and I'll get to retire a Bear.'"

Those talks never gained any steam and, looking forward, Forte knows he won't get anything approaching the $30.4-million, four-year deal he's wrapping up. Earlier this month he turned 30, the age at which the production of even the best running backs usually begin to diminish.

"I know I turned 30, and most 30-year-old running backs don't get those type of deals like I did (in 2012)," he said. "(But) something respectful, obviously not at the league minimum or anything like that. I always look at staying home and being here where I've been the past eight years. Teammates I've grown up around, they know me and I know them, and I've been able to even mentor some of the younger guys. I like the legacy part and continuing on with that."

Injury report:

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and linebacker Shea McClellin (concussion) did not practice and are both doubtful for Sunday's game against the Bucs.

Jeffery has already missed five games this season, including four (Games 2-5) with an earlier hamstring strain.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal (knee), linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee), cornerbacks Bryce Callahan (quad) and Tracy Porter (ankle) and safety Adrian Amos (shoulder) were limited and are questionable.

For the Bucs, two starters are out: wide receiver Vincent Jackson (knee) and defensive tackle Akeem Spence (ankle). After limited practices, safety Chris Conte (knee) is doubtful and guard Logan Mankins (knee) is questionable.

• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.