The Chicago Bears flipped their offensive tackles during Monday night’s training camp practice, putting J’Marcus Webb on the left side and rookie Gabe Carimi on the right. From the sounds of it, that’s how they hope to enter the regular season.

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said he “doesn’t want to play games” with the lineup, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tice said Webb is better suited for the position athletically, and it’s now clear the Bears won’t be signing another veteran free agent to compete for a starting job.

I’m all for maintaining continuity along the offensive line to allow players to develop in their assigned roles, but let’s just say there is some doubt around the NFL about whether Webb can play left tackle. In May, I suggested that Carimi might be the best short-term option on the left side because of his college experience, even if he projected long-term as a right tackle. In the end, the Bears are taking a leap of faith that Webb can develop at a more difficult position after having an up-and-down season on the right side last year.

True left tackles are a rare commodity. If you’re choosing from two on the third day of training camp, maybe you have none.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears players seemed fatigued after Monday night’s practice, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears teammates were sharing anecdotes of awe Monday about now-departed center Olin Kreutz, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Detroit Lions’ free-agent approach: “The Lions have resisted temptation, and for now, they’re wise to do so.”
• Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus rested his surgically repaired knee during Monday’s practice. Donald Thomas worked in his place, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, while Jason Fox continues to work at left tackle in place of the injured Jeff Backus.
• Lions quarterback Shaun Hill has recovered from offseason back surgery, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Linebacker Brad Jones is among the players who have returned to health at the start of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Rookie tight end D.J. Williams is making a good early impression at Packers camp, notes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Packers are going to give left tackle Chad Clifton plenty of rest during training camp, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie wouldn’t explain why he was placed on the non-football injury list to start the season, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier on McKinnie’s situation, via Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune: “He’s on NFI and we’re going to take a look at some things and just try to get him where we need him to be. But Bryant’s going to be fine. He’s going to be fine. We’ve just got to go through some things and get him ready for the things that are ahead.”
• The Vikings have cleared cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee) to practice, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.