Grasu's knee injury looks 'fairly serious,' Fox says
The offense was relying on second-year center Hroniss Grasu to step into a crucial role in the middle of the offensive line after he experienced growing pains in eight starts as a rookie.
But Grasu suffered a non-contact right knee injury in Saturday's Family Fest practice at Soldier Field that coach John Fox said looked "fairly serious," and was carted off the field.
The extent of the injury likely won't be made public until at least Sunday, following medical tests and further evaluation.
If Grasu is out for any length of time, it will require shuffling of bodies on a line that was already dealing with a rebuilding process. Either veteran swing guard Ted Larsen or second-round rookie guard Cody Whitehair would move to center. Ten of Larsen's 57 NFL starts have been at center. Whitehair started 51 games at Kansas State at four different O-line positions, but none at center.
Whitehair had been taking snaps as the No. 1 left guard, and Larsen has gotten extensive work at right guard with the first team with starter Kyle Long recovering from a calf injury.
With both Whitehair and
A serious injury would be a tough blow for Grasu, who had impressed quarterback Jay Cutler with his improvement this year.
"I'm in contact with him literally and figuratively about every play," Cutler said earlier in the week. "I think he's done a fabulous job, and I do believe him, that probably every single day he was doing something to help him be a better football player.
"That's just the type of football player he is. He doesn't want to let anybody down out there, and I'm really happy with where he's at. I know the coaches are really happy with where he's at. He's continuing to get better and better as a player."
Last year, when injuries to Will Montgomery and Grasu left the Bears in a bind, veteran guard Matt Slauson filled in admirably. But he was inexplicably cut in the off-season, a move that was questionable then but could be much worse going forward.
Slauson is currently the starting center for the San Diego Chargers.
Other injuries:
The receiving corps was only moderately more healthy at Saturday's Soldier Field practice.
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and Eddie Royal (concussion) remained out, but Kevin White was back after taking Friday off.
Tight end Zach Miller (concussion) did not practice, nor did Greg Scruggs (bruised lung), who was on the sidelines after being hospitalized for observation Thursday and Friday.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan (knee) also did not practice.
Enough already:
Guard Ted Larsen, who has instigated about half of the almost-daily scraps during training camp, was at it again Saturday, mixing it up with linebacker Lamin Barrow.
The latest dust-up may have been the most intense, as guard Kyle Long sprinted across the field to get involved.
No Bears training camp in recent memory has featured as many brawls as this year's session. Earlier in the week coach John Fox didn't appear overly concerned.
"I don't know if it's good or bad," Fox said after multiple shoving matches interrupted a practice. "It's just part of it. Guys lost it a little bit. I think it'll tone down as we go. It's like establishing your spot. It's part of 'boys will be boys.' "
But Fox appeared more perturbed with Saturday's melee, saying he was "disappointed."
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