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The Bernstein Brief: Big Questions Remain For Bears

By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist

(CBS) If the goal of training camp and the preseason is to emerge fit and ready, the Bears failed.

John Fox's team is wracked by injury and displaying no improvement in play at critical positions after more than a month of ostensible preparation. Anybody of significance who played in Thursday night's version of the annual Bum-a-palooza struggled, particularly the overmatched offensive tackles. Ignore all the rest of that three hours that wastes everyone's time.

The Bears are a team lacking scoring weapons, and they now admit to having no idea where their best player is going to line up for the first game. Kyle Long can only be the answer at one of the troubled tackle spots, regardless. Receiver Alshon Jeffery is injured, and so is tackle Jermon Bushrod.

On defense, they look always a step slow and a moment late. And also hurt.

Cuts loom, and fringe acquisitions from the NFL rummage pile will squeeze a few more off the roster in the coming days. The Bears could use another month to heal up and figure out what they're doing, but whatever this team may be is out of time and has to play.

Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.

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