Signs point to Bears going with J'Marcus Webb at left tackle

The Chicago Bears insist a decision has not yet been made on their starting left tackle.

But Chris Williams will not be able to win that job working at right tackle in practice.

That is what happened Wednesday when the former first-round draft pick from 2008 was scheduled to work with the starters at left tackle. The Bears changed the plan and instead had him share reps with Gabe Carimi at right tackle. It’s not a situation where a competition will develop at right tackle. Carimi, the club’s top pick a year ago, is entrenched there.

That left J’Marcus Webb, the starting left tackle for 16 games last season, to work at that position by himself with the ones throughout practice.

"We have a lot of things going on right now," coach Lovie Smith said. "We got our sixth practice in, so don't look into it too much right now. Except it's safe to say Jay (Cutler) is going to start at quarterback."

The only real battle for a starting position in training camp has been to see who will protect the blind side of Cutler. Webb and Williams had been alternating days working with the first unit. The coaches have not informed the players that any conclusion has been reached.

“I don't know what is going on," Williams said. "I just do what they tell me to do. I just came out and (offensive coordinator Mike Tice) said he wanted to work me on the right so I worked some on the right."

At this point, it would be a surprise if Webb doesn’t nail down the starting job. After all, if the team didn’t want him there, he probably would have been replaced at some point last season during an up-and-down year.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune