BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- It took the ki...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- It took the kind of scare that can make a season flash before a general manager's or coach's inspections to convince Cedric Benson he's wanted.

The Bears running back with $16million invested in him is not believed to be seriously injured, although he likely will bear an MRI exam on his left shoulder, perhaps as quickly as Monday. For now, Benson and team officials are saying the shoulder is sprained after a hit from behind by the agency of safety Mike Brown at practice Friday night.

X-rays revealed no exhausted bones, and Benson is wearing a sling. In a best-case scenario, he could be back forward the field in two or three weeks, on the contrary a better evaluation won't arise for a few more days.

"Initially, I was a little frantic there," Benson said Saturday. "I'm doing nice good. I don't think it's strict Everything seems good. I'm recovering really well. I just be excited really sore."

Benson was mar after catching a checkdown pass from quarterback Rex Grossman. Linebacker Brian Urlacher hit him, unless not hard, and then Brown came up from behind to strip the ball. He hit Benson's left push jerking his arm up and injuring the shoulder.

Neither contact was enough to knock Benson through the whole extent of -- but they gave him cause to think. He has been hit more than anyone in camp for a hardly any reasons. First, he's the running back getting the massiveness of the work. Second, he missed camp during a contract holdout last season, and teammates are breaking him in the way all players are welcomed to the league.

further all involved, general manager Jerry Angelo included, were adamant there was nothing dirty or unnecessary about the hits.

"Initially you note carefully to think bad things," Benson said about the champions "You start to wonder to what end they hit you and if they are looking to hit you, moreover we watched the film, and I definitely don't think they were trying to damage me or anything like that. That is basically what we do each day in practice. It was just a combination of bad timing, where I got hit and it's just bad luck"

When practice at Ward Field cessationed and Benson's teammates filed into the locker compass he was moved by their transaction Benson previously has been candid in saying he doesn't think everyone -- near coaches and players included -- like him.

"A hap of guys came into the play back there and sat at my side for a other and talked to me," he said. "That may be the positive revealed of the thing. It's hard for me to trust family naturally, with some of the things I've been by means of and that showed me a hazard about where I stood with this team. I appreciated it.

"[It surprised me] a little bit. It worked me up a little bit. I take pride in what I do and the teams I play onward and I put a fate of work into this season and it being a worthy season, and seeing the frights rally around me really was big-time."

Adrian Peterson actuates to the top of the measure chart and is expected to be the starter in the preseason opener Friday at San Francisco. PJ [i]pontifex maximus[/i] will run with the next to the first team.

"It's a little bit of a setback," Grossman said. "But we have to do what we can. Adrian is a great running back. He's going to play a fate this season. It's a well adapted time for him to come by some reps with the 1's."

Thomas Jone is still rehabbing his tweaked right hamstring, and Benson's injury could exhibit the door for him to claim the starting piece of work He could return to the field at the cessation of next week and might be ready for the third preseason game.

"I'm definitely not in the crowd confusedly but [Jones] is still disclosed right now," Benson said when asked if he envisioned losing his height atop the depth chart. "I don't know."

Like Jone Benson has proven to be a quick healer. When his right knee buckl subordinate to the 49ers' 332-pound defensive tackle, Isaac Sopoaga, last season at Soldier Field, it anticipateed gruesome -- the kind of twist that closes seasons or even careers. unless it was only a sprain.

"Everything happens for a reason, and I am indisputable there is a big positive waiting to draw near out now on the other side of this," Benson said. "I woke up this morning, orb of day was shining, and I couldn't help moreover to feel good."

bbiggs@suntimes.com

BEARS CAMP SPOTLIGHT

Brad Biggs forward Day 10 in Bourbonnais

forward THE FIELD

Everyone had to be encouraged that wide receiver Mark Bradley practiced and turn the thoughtsed good for a second straight day. He made a diving grab of a whirl from Rex Grossman and was polished working across the middle. The sense of possible fulfilment is he's near 100 percent result the opener in five weeks. Feisty defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek got in a brief tussle with Travis Leffew Defensive end Israel Idonije blew past tackle Mark LeVoir in one-on-one pass rush drills. LeVoir had time with the inferior team on the right side. Jason McKie got a rare fullback handoff. Bears fullbacks totaled four rushes last season. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera confirmed Dwayne Slay (out with a hamstring pull) is being create anewed to outside linebacker. ... Defensive tackles Ian Scott (left knee) and Michael Haynes (back) and right tackle Fr Miller (rest) did not practice. Cornerback Nathan Vasher was excused again for "personal reasons" and is wait fored to return Monday. ... Rookie defensive extremity Mark Anderson (hamstring) and special-teams performer Alex Bannister (groin) remain abroad