Latest Bears injury clouds form over Jermon Bushrod, Pernell McPhee

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The health of the Bears will only really matter on Sept. 13 when the Green Bay Packers materialize in Soldier Field. But the Bears continue to have troubling nicks and bumps, and it is only speculation which are serious and which will mend as early as Saturday for the third preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The latest came on Tuesday when linebacker Pernell McPhee, one of the foundation pillars of the changing Bears defense, was not at practice due to a chest injury. That general description has had ominous aftershocks, as recently as last season when guard Matt Slauson was forced onto injured reserve and missed the entire half of 2014 with a chest injury.

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In four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, McPhee missed only four games, all in 2012 with a thigh injury.

Left tackle Jermon Bushrod left practice early with a back problem that has cost him practice time through this offseason. He has missed only two games over the last five years, both in 2014 with knee and ankle injuries.

The Bears are perilously thin at tackle, with neither Jordan Mills nor Charles Leno Jr. stepping firmly enough forward to seize the right-tackle job so far. Leno stepped in for Bushrod on Tuesday and Mills, demoted last week in favor of Leno, stepped in at right tackle. After that, versatile Michael Ola is next up and Ola did not impress enough last year and this offseason to be in the current competition for the right-tackle job.

[NBC SHOP: Gear up Bears fans!]

All of this is on top of three of the Bears’ top four wide receivers – Alshon Jeffery, rookie Kevin White, Marquess Wilson – all out with leg issues.

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