NFL teams
Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Bears guard Kyle Long placed on IR with right ankle injury

NFL, Chicago Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. --- Chicago Bears Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday with a right ankle injury, the team announced.

Long was injured on a second-and-goal play from the 7-yard line when quarterback Jay Cutler pitched the ball to fullback Paul Lasike, who ran up the middle for a short 3-yard gain, in Chicago's 36-10 loss to Tampa Bay last Sunday.

Long did not get up after the play as trainers and doctors rushed onto the field. Chicago's medical staff eventually put a brace on Long's right leg before placing him on the cart. Several of Long's teammates attempted to encourage and console him before he went back to the locker room.

"It's tough," said Cutler. "He has had a bunch of injuries to one side of his body and now the lower half takes a hit too. He's going to be a hard guy to replace."

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Long had played injured all year. He tore his left labrum in the preseason, and then he suffered a triceps strain that kept him out of the Bears' Week 8 victory over Minnesota.

One of Chicago's team leaders, Long signed a lucrative four-year contract extension prior to the beginning of the regular season.

Long is one of only seven Bears players to earn Pro Bowl nods in each of his first three professional seasons, a list that includes Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka and Gayle Sayers.

The Bears also activated wide receiver Marquess Wilson from the physically unable to perform list, signed defensive lineman C.J. Wilson and offensive lineman Cornelius Edison, and placed defensive lineman Will Sutton on injured reserve.

Wilson is one of Chicago's receivers tabbed to replace Alshon Jeffery, who received a four-game suspension on Monday for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

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