Bears linebacker
Brian Urlacher
was not on the sideline for Thursday night’s exhibition opener against the Broncos. He was excused for personal reasons Monday and has been away from the team since.
A source said Urlacher did not attend Wednesday’s closed walk-through at Olivet Nazarene University. The eight-time Pro Bowler had been sidelined four days with knee soreness before being excused.
Although coach Lovie Smith admitted there is always concern when a player misses practice, he said Urlacher would be back in time for the season opener against the Colts on Sept. 9.
Urlacher sprained the medial collateral ligament and partially sprained the posterior collateral ligament in his left knee in last year’s season finale at Minnesota on Jan. 1. He did not have surgery on the knee and has no plans to undergo an arthroscopic procedure now.
Bears general manager
Phil Emery
addressed Urlacher’s situation on the WBBM-AM 780 pregame show.
“Brian is doing well,” Emery said. “We treat each and every injury on an individual basis. He’s a guy who needs some rest right now. We’re going to provide him with that. Practice right now is not in his best interest or the best interest of the
.”
Nick Roach
started in place of Urlacher on Thursday with
Geno Hayes
sliding over to Roach’s starting strong-side linebacker spot.
Tough debut:
Michael Bush
started in place of
Matt Forte,
who was in uniform but did not play. And Bush’s Bears debut didn’t exactly go how he envisioned it.
He fumbled a toss from starting quarterback
Jason Campbell
— his old teammate with the Raiders. Broncos linebacker
Von Miller
picked up the loose ball in Bears’ territory.
The result of the turnover was a 28-yard field goal by
Matt Prater.
Bears running backs coach
Tim Spencer
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has been tough on third running back
Kahlil Bell
about fumbles. Spencer might have to take the same approach with Bush.
Nickel of time:
D.J. Moore
seemed rather bold the other day when he said no one could challenge him for his spot at nickel back. Moore went out and backed up his words immediately Thursday night.
Peyton Manning
drove the Broncos to the Bears’ 12-yard line on the game’s opening drive. On third-and-6, Manning attempted to hit receiver
Brandon Stokley
over the middle, but Moore tipped the ball. It bounced off Stokley’s hands and was then intercepted by Bears safety
Major Wright,
ending the drive.
Moore always seems to get his hands on the ball in practice, and he enters this season with eight interceptions in 32 career games.
Injury prone?
Despite the interception, Wright exited in the first quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return. The strong safety’s hamstring was heavily wrapped as he sat on the bench.
Wright has missed nine career games various injuries, including a hamstring in 2010 and a shoulder injury last season.
The Bears drafted safety a
Brandon Hardin
in the third round as insurance, considering the injury history at safety. Hardin has been working at free safety behind starter
Chris Conte.
Extra points:
The crowd booed when former Bear
Caleb Hanie
replaced Manning at quarterback for the Broncos. … Rookie
Greg McCoy
dropped back to field the first kickoff for the Bears. It was a touchback. …
Craig Steltz
recorded the Bears’ first special teams tackle on the opening kickoff. … Receiver
Eric Weems
(ankle), linebacker
Jabara Williams
(hamstring) continue to recover from injuries.