Ross, are those bearings for large chamfer, "H" BBC journals?
If so, they would fit the tangs and you would only need to chamfer them in the rod, while narrowing it.
If not, the tangs could prove problematic. I've never done it but, it is sad that you don't need the tangs but, that's makes for, another machining operation.
In general, 7/8 wide rods, need bearings no wider than 3/4.