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Long is the Bears' lone Pro Bowler

The Bears' Pro Bowl "entourage" this year is an intimate party of one: second-year guard Kyle Long.

At least for now, Long is the only Bears representative, and he will be making his second appearance in as many seasons.

However, many more players will be added to the Pro Bowl rosters when an equal number bow out because they're playing in the following week's Super Bowl or because of injury or for lack of interest.

Long, a first-round pick (20th overall) out of Oregon in 2013, is the only offensive lineman in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons. He is the 10th Bear to do so overall, the last being Devin Hester in 2006-07. Linebacker Brian Urlacher also was honored in each of his first two seasons (2000-01).

According to STATS, LLC, Long has not allowed a sack all season. He missed the first game of his NFL career last week with a hip injury but said Tuesday that he's "100 percent" playing Sunday at Minnesota in the season finale. The 6-foot-6, 313-pound Long literally was the team's biggest cheerleader last weekend in the home loss to Detroit.

"I love the players on this team," coach Marc Trestman said. "Kyle's one of the guys I love. And we had some fun on the sideline. Kyle was a great teammate on Sunday. He was trying to rally the team, with all the players, trying to encourage them.

"He's got very unique leadership skills in terms of his love of the game and his intelligence level and his enthusiasm for the game. We sorely would have liked him to play, but he did the best he could. And that was to create some enthusiasm on the sideline and help the guys out."

Back for more:

Defensive end Austen Lane was signed to the 53-man roster Tuesday to take the place of defensive end Willie Young, who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day with a torn Achilles tendon.

Lane, who was in camp with the Bears but waived before the season, has played in 30 games with 17 starts over the previous four seasons with Jacksonville and Detroit.

• • •

Bears players named to the Pro Bowl in each of their first two seasons

OG Kyle Long 2013, 14

RS Devin Hester 2006, 07

LB Brian Urlacher 2000, 01

S Mark Carrier 1990, 91

RB Gale Sayers 1965, 66

LB Dick Butkus 1965, 66

TE Mike Ditka 1961, 62

RB Rick Casares 1955, 56

WR Harlon Hill 1954, 55

DT Fred Williams 1952, 53

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