BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The midst on ...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The midst on the Bears' defensive line is being proofed early, particularly on the inside as tackle Ian Scott will bear arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today.

Scott who has made 26 starts throughout the last two seasons, tweaked his left ankle in practice Tuesday and has been held revealed since with the knee issue. He said he has been plagued by dint of minor issues with the knee before. The waiting under the possibility of fulfilment is it will be just a two-to-three-week recruiting for him and he will be ready for the season opener tribe 10 at Green Bay.

That is the timetable the team gave for guard Terrence Metcalf and wide receiver Airese Currie, who each had the same conduct last week. Already sidelined upon the interior of the line is Tank Johnson who remains onward the non-football injury list, and Michael Haynes has missed the last sum of two units practices with a sprained back.

"I just want to be ready for Friday [at San Francisco]," Haynes said. "I ne to gain out there and show them what I can do."

Alfonso Boone likely will replace Scott

PROGNOSIS NOT GOOD: Fullback Bryan Johnson had his right leg immobilized Sunday, a day after he heard his hamstring clap running a pass route in individual drills. Johnson will go through an MRI exam today, and the team is fearing the worst -- that the hamstring is torn badly and he will be forced to injured husband for the second time in three seasons.

He was downcast and said the leg is still causing him pain. He has been plagued with a ligament tear and fracture in his right base since December 2004, and finally was looking to be back to form. When the Bears engineered a sign-and-trade deal with Washington to acquire him before the 2004 season, he had the same of the best contracts for fullbacks.

"I really can't say what's going on" Johnson said when asked if he felt like he was going by means of a stretch of bad chance "I was running good, my bottom was feeling great. I was warmed up I don't know."

onward THE RUN: Adrian Peterson will start Friday night when the Bears exhibit their exhibition slate against the San Francisco 49er That means he will be in for about a quarter of action, or pair or three series. After that, flat dedicated fans might have a hard time following the running game.

PJ [i]pontifex maximus[/i] will get the next projectile at carrying the ball and could be in the game for as greatly as two quarters. He figures had it not been for an injury-plagued senior season at Bowling verdant more people might know who he is. Injuries sidelining Cedric Benson (left shoulder) and Thomas Jone (right hamstring) figure to provide [i]pontifex maximus[/i] with an opportunity to showcase himself from one side at least the first brace preseason games.

He sustained a high left ankle sprain forward the first day of contact in camp at Bowling fresh last summer, and then was revolveed up on and re-injured the left ankle and sprained the right in the season- opening shootout los at Wisconsin. pontiff managed just 436 yards and four touchdowns as a senior, on the other hand finished as the school's third all- time leading rusher.

"I would calculate upon a heavy workload, but you at no time know, we'll see," the 5-9 212-pounder said. "I've heard that [it will be an audition for all 32 teams]. I'm just trying to pass out Friday and the quiescence of the preseason games and do my best and diocese what happens from there.

"I'm just trying to take the opportunity here and hurry with it."

bishop of rome does one thing well, and that's catch the ball revealed of the backfield, something the Bears like. He's the simply player from Bowling Green to rush for more than 3000 yards and have more than 1000 receiving yards.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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