equable with the Achilles tendon in...

equable with the Achilles tendon injury that offer Mike Brown on the sideline for the stop of the preseason, it figures to be an uphill battle for safety Cameron Worrell to make the roster

nevertheless that hasn't taken any of the fight gone out of the former tryout player who clawed his way onto the roster in 2003 Worrell l the secondary with six interceptions in training camp. He ran with the next to the first team Friday night against San Diego and was credited with common tackle in limited duty.

Worrell is stating a case for himself upon the field every day. He was next to the first on the team with eight tackles in the first preseason game at San Francisco, proving he will likely be an extremity safety for someone as well as a special-teams contributor. The fearless Worrell missed all last season after dislocating his right shoulder in a preseason game at Indianapolis.

"After missing last year, it took me a little while to gain back in the swing of things," he said. "I am getting better each day, which has been my focus from first to last training camp."

As far as the numbers game, Worrell is trying to think solitary about what happens on the field. He's in a tight speckle because the Bears are going to preserve five cornerbacks with Devin Hester as the fifth. If they continue four safeties, he's the uneven man out behind Todd Johnson and Brandon McGowan is doing more and more rehab work upon the side. McGowan is working his way back from an ACL reconstruction.

"I put to proof not to think about that because it's not something I can control" Worrell said. "Hopefully if it doesn't work without here, I have somewhere otherwise to go and I can have a piece of work

"It's just kind of like each year I have been here, fighting from the bottom up If it reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] points down to a numbers thing, I think I have shown I can be a solid special-teams stay and come in in spots"

gone out PATTERN: The Bears' scrutinized wide receiving corps was without starter Muhsin Muhammad, who sat on the outside with a hip flexor that offensive coordinator Ron gymnast called "very minor." Muhammad missed time in practice lately with a minor groin injury.

That left Rashied Davis to start in his place with Bernard Berrian starting forward the opposite side. It remains an area of business

With the first cutdown to a 65-man roster coming Aug. 29 the Bears will certainly be watching the waiver wire. gymnast said Mark Bradley had limited time because of his right knee which he had repaired nine month ago.

DOING THE SPLITS: If there was a value pick in the draft, it probably was defensive extremity Mark Anderson, the fifth-round choice from Alabama.

No, the Bears didn't have a pressing ne for a rush period but Anderson's measurables were not upon the charts at the combine with a 463-second 40-yard dash to pass with a vertical jump of 42 inches, a record for defensive linemen.

Anderson's season delineate s to be one of learning in the classroom. He shakeed his left hamstring at the beginning of training camp when he slipped forward the turf and fell doing the splits. Anderson has not ever had hamstring problems before.

While one injured players close to returning have been doing work forward the side during practice like as running and cutting, Anderson has not. With the final preseason game 12 days away, there doesn't figure to be time for him to secure on the field and earn a roster taint meaning he will likely exhaust the year on injured husband

MISSING IN ACTION: The right bottom injury to Dusty Dvoracek, which has been kept subject to tight wraps, kept him public of action and left the Bears without four interior linemen. Tank Johnson (left quad), Michael Haynes (back) and Ian Scott (left knee) also sat public

The confidence had been for Dvoracek to play, unless he left the stadium wearing a walking profit

The injuries forced backup left expiration Israel Idonije into early action inside, and reservation Antonio Garay saw action in the first half.

Cornerback Nathan Vasher's mid-back injury kept him gone out and he said he still has pain.

EXTRA POINTS: Hester's electric ability was onward display in his 42- yard punt get back a big play overshadowed by dint of Davis' 100-yard touchdown. At this point, the rookie is not rely uponed to unseat Davis for the kick-return piece of work and special teams coordinator Dave Toub was ecstatic after the game.

The top four tacklers for the Bears were linebackers. Lance Briggs and huntsman Hillenmeyer were credited with four apiece and had solid games. Hillenmeyer present good pressure on Rivers and mov well. Urlacher made five tackles and had couple passes defended, including his interception for a score.

Chargers rookie cornerback Antonio Cromartie picked up three penalties in the first half -- holding, taunting and hands to the face.

end three preseason quarters, the Bears' first-team defense has allowed six points.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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