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Chicago Bears turn to Larsen to replace Grasu at center

BOURBONNAIS - The Chicago Bears began moving on from center Hroniss Grasu's season-ending knee injury, with seventh-year veteran Ted Larsen taking over in the middle Monday and making his first snaps to quarterback Jay Cutler.

Grasu, who tore the ACL in his right knee during Saturday's practice at Soldier Field, was on crutches at lunch but in good spirits considering the situation.

"Obviously it's a punch in the gut anytime you lose a player," coach John Fox said of the 2015 third-round draft pick. "Especially, you feel bad for the kid. He's worked very hard to earn that spot, and he's a fantastic teammate as well as a player.

"But he'll be around us. He'll be in the meetings. They'll probably delay the surgery for a little bit, as they normally do with a torn ACL."

Because of Grasu's hard work, humble demeanor and commitment to the group, his teammates and coaches appeared to be taking his injury harder than he is.

"I've played with a lot of guys, and he's one of my favorites, even in a short amount of time," Cutler said. "I had a hard time getting over that. I think guys are probably still feeling the effects a little bit.

"He's so selfless. He's everything you talk about when you talk about a team guy."

Larsen, who signed with the Bears in March as an unrestricted free agent, had taken most of his snaps at right guard during camp because of the calf injury to starter Kyle Long, who is back at full strength.

That experience with the starters will help Larsen's transition, as will the fact that he has made 11 of his 57 NFL starts at center.

"That's why we signed Ted," Fox said. "He's an experienced lineman, he's a veteran guy, and he came from a winning team. We have great confidence in what Ted can do."

Larsen started 26 games for the Arizona Cardinals the previous two seasons, 16 at left guard and nine at right guard. His last start at center was in 2013, and he started nine games at center in 2012.

"It's comfortable," Larsen said of his new position. "Luckily I'll have the chance in training camp to work on it and get a lot of reps, get better at it. It's a position I've played before, but it's working with the system, working with Jay that's probably the No. 1 thing. I feel good with (making) all the (blocking) calls."

Cutler believes Larsen's experience will make the transition as smooth as possible.

"He's a pro," the QB said. "He stepped in (Monday), and we didn't miss a beat. We're going to be fine there. If you've got a veteran guy like we do in Teddy, that speeds up the process.

"He's been there. He's done it. He knows the calls. It's just a personal relationship with me and him now, of getting everything down and in sync. That will take a little bit of time, but we'll make it happen."

Larsen has been in the middle of most of the extracurricular mayhem that has interrupted nearly every training-camp practice this year.

"I mean, it's hot out and guys' tempers flare," said the 6-foot-2, 315-pound Larsen. "I'm not a guy to take any (stuff) from anybody or stand down, so that's probably the (gist) of it."

Rookie second-round pick Cody Whitehair has the potential to play center, but for now he will remain at left guard with the first team, where he has been all camp.

Whitehair, who also will get some snaps at center in the preseason and during practices, said Larsen's attitude is welcomed on the O-line.

"Ted's a very vicious player," Whitehair said. "He's your typical O-lineman; he's a tough guy. He just does what it takes. Ted's just a very aggressive offensive lineman, and we need Ted to be aggressive to get movement on the line, and that's what he does."

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

This is a 2016 photo of Ted Larsen of the Chicago Bears NFL football team. This image reflects the Chicago Bears active roster as of Monday, June 13, 2016 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
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