MOBILE, Ala.—New Chicago Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice has raved about center Olin Kreutz since he was hired less than two weeks ago.

Now, Tice will have to wait to get to work with Kreutz on the field. The six-time Pro Bowl center will undergo surgery today to repair an Achilles tendon, the Chicago Tribune reported. Kreutz has been dealing with the issue for at least three seasons, and missed time at the start of training camp in 2008 to rest. But he’s missed only one start since the beginning of the 2001 season, and that was because of an appendectomy.

Kreutz is expected to need four to six months to rehabilitate from surgery, and should be ready to go well in advance of training camp. He did not tear the tendon. The last time he was healthy, he was named All-Pro in 2006.

The surgery is expected to bring him back better and stronger. He sought a second medical opinion after the season ended, but the injury has made it difficult for him to push off and gain leverage at times.

Kreutz will be the man in the middle of the line that may be reshaped some by Tice after the team finally hires an offensive coordinator. In his absence this spring, the club may work Josh Beekman at the position.

Kreutz will be the third Bear to undergo offseason surgery. Running back Matt Forte had an arthroscopic cleanout of his knee, and punter Brad Maynard underwent arthroscopic hip surgery.

Follow me on Twitter: BradBiggs