Pernell McPhee Injury: Updates on Bears LB'S Recovery from Knee Surgery

Chicago Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) as he recovers from knee surgery, per Larry Mayer of the Bears’ official website.

Continue for updates.

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Pace Discusses McPhee's Status

Wednesday, July 27

McPhee also sat out Chicago's offseason program after the surgery, and general manager Ryan Pace talked about the linebacker's health, per Mayer: 

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We've just got to acclimate him into football activities, so he'll work with the trainers. In the OTAs, he wasn't doing a lot of football stuff. He was doing stuff on the side with our strength and conditioning coaches. Now it's just going to be, ‘How do you feel?' as we build him back in instead of just throwing him out there right away with full speed football drills.

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Mayer noted McPhee can return from the PUP list at any time in training camp.

In his second season with Chicago, McPhee is coming off a season where he recorded 53 tackles and six sacks. His presence helped stabilize the Bears defense a bit, but they were nonetheless 6-10. Quarterback Jay Cutler was bullish on them making an even bigger improvement in 2016. 

“Just going against these guys, it’s a different group, it’s a much different group,” Cutler said in June, per Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “They’re faster. They’re quicker. They have a confidence about them. Just going against them, from my perspective, it seems like night and day from last year.”

McPhee played part of the season on an injured knee and underwent the arthroscopic surgery in the offseason.

After missing just six games in his first five NFL seasons, the injuries are starting to add up. McPhee's going to be in danger of being challenged for his starting spot if he can't stay in the lineup.