NFC Notes: Bears, Cardinals, Cowboys, Falcons

Bears

Bears HC John Fox said G Kyle Long missed Wednesday’s practice to get his surgically repaired right ankle re-examined.

“He’s at a doctor’s appointment,” Fox said, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN. “[They’re looking at] his ankle. That’s what he’s been kind of working on.

“He’ll back tomorrow. He’ll actually be back tonight.”

Long was involved in a number of skirmishes during Monday’s practice. Fox explained that Long’s mental and physical state likely contributed to the situation.

“There was some remorse there,” Fox said. “He was embarrassed for himself and for the team. Those things happen. Our guys, we’ve got a bond and he’s one of our family members and he’ll be treated as such, like any kind of thing that happens in a family. Guys adapt and respond and I think everything’s fine.

“I think any time a player’s injured, they get something that they love taken away from them. It’s been a minute, there’s some pain and suffering that goes along with it and I’m sure those are things. But we have a lot of resources here, Kyle knows he’s loved here, by his teammates and by everyone in the building. He’ll get through it and we talked about that and I think he feels confident in that.”

Cardinals

• Cardinals HC Bruce Arians said the team will keep six wide receivers on the active roster this season, but it has yet to be determined if all six are currently on the team: “Expect to keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster. Whether all six are currently on roster is yet to be determined.” (Darren Urban)

Cowboys

• Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said LB Jaylon Smith will be on a “pitch count” for Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts. (Clarence Hill Jr.)

Falcons

Falcons HC Dan Quinn believes that RB Devonta Freeman will finish the league’s concussion protocol within “the next couple of days” and his injury is not long-term.

“I don’t have an update as of yet, but I’m thinking that would be soon,” Quinn said, via Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “It’s not going to be a long-term issue.”