LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears held out linebacker Brian Urlacher from Thursday’s workout as a precautionary measure as the veteran continues to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery.
“As far as the plan, I don’t know exactly what the plan (to address Urlacher’s knee) will be all year. But I’m gonna watch his reps a little bit,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Today we held him out. He’ll be full-go (Friday). He should be fine.”
Wearing a jersey, and a white bucket hat instead of his Bears helmet, Urlacher attended practice with the rest of his teammates Thursday, but it was apparent early he wouldn’t participate. Smith pointed out the decision to hold out Urlacher wasn’t made because the linebacker suffered a setback or is fighting through lingering soreness.
“Brian Urlacher’s doing fine,” Smith said. “We held him out; coaches decision. I’m not worried. There’s only so many plays that you have and for me, and us, (I) don’t think he needs any more than a couple of days through the week. He’s had trouble with the knee. So we’re not going to push the knee through the week. We’ve done that in that past with a lot of guys. This is not big issue at all.”
Urlacher expected the team to monitor his repetitions while he continues to work to regain an acceptable level of cardiovascular fitness, but said Thursday he plans to play the entire game Sunday against the Colts.
"I'll probably let it rest next week with the short week," Urlacher said. "But I have to get on the practice field eventually."
Backup running back Lorenzo Booker (head injury) missed his third day of practice Thursday, which seriously decreases the likelihood he’ll play Sunday when the team opens the regular season at Soldier Field against the Indianapolis Colts. The club also listed free safety Chris Conte (shoulder) and punter Adam Podlesh (hip) as participating at practice in a limited capacity.
It’s unknown whether Podlesh or Conte will play against the Colts, but Smith hasn’t ruled out either, saying there’s a chance that both could be available and that both “are making progress.”
Eight players landed on the injury report of the Indianapolis Colts, including linebacker Pat Angerer (foot) and guard Joe Reitz (knee), both non-participants in Thursday’s practice. Receivers Austin Collie (head) and T.Y. Hilton (shoulder) practiced on a limited basis.
The Colts also listed running backs Delone Carter (chest), Mewelde Moore (chest), cornerback Jerraud Powers (knee) and defensive end Corey Redding (knee) on the injury report, but all participated fully Thursday during the club’s workout.