BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Lance Briggs i...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Lance Briggs is not back in the starting rotation, further he might not be in Lovie Smith's bullpen too long longer.

The Pro beaker weak-side linebacker saw time with the first nickel defense upon Friday, a step toward reclaiming his position from Leon Joe a fill-in who is considered a backup at best.

Briggs is handling his time with the other team with ease and didn't present the appearance overly concerned.

"It's not about by what mode I feel," Briggs said. "It's about the we here."

When asked if a demotion could be viewed as a form of punishment, his humor took throughout

"I think in a certain quantity of countries, yeah, it can be viewed as punishment," he said. "Here, I don't know what to call it. We'll descry what happens. It's Day 2 in camp. Although I have started each camp up to this year, leave out my rookie year, it's all right. It's fine with me I'm not bitter about it, let's deposit it like that."

Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera said the switch was not a punishment for Briggs, still a reward for Joe for "working hard and doing what we asked."

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said that he is picking up right where he left opposite with his teammate and that their chemistry is in tact.

"We're not going to lose that," Urlacher said. "He makes a haphazard of plays, he's a smart fright he's fun to be around."

STAND UP AND SING: Rookie linebacker Jamar Williams stood upon a chair in the dining hall Friday evening. a veterans decided it was time to learn any names and hear some society fight songs. Williams is from Arizona State, and a fate of his work was flooded out by laughter. Others followed to more giggles

ROSTERING: Running back Tony Hollings didn't achieve used to his surroundings before being sculpture Northwestern wide receiver Mark Philmore was signed to replace him. Philmore exhausted time with the team in the spring.

The Bears sought to pick up Hollings in the 2003 supplemental draft, on the other hand he went to the Houston Texans for a second-round pick. His career not got going with the Texans. He signed a two-year contract with the Bears, unless he wasn't going to crack the rotation.

CATCHING ON: It didn't take former Bears lineman Qasim Mitchell extended to find work. He signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers forward Friday.

SICK BAY: Cornerback Willie Amos' season was divide [i]or[/i] sever short. The Nebraska product who had an NFL Europe exemption tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee

- Rookie defensive last Mark Anderson went down during practice and is believed to have a hamstring injury.

- Special-teams performer Alex Bannister was sent to procure an MRI exam on a contested groin muscle. Results are not known.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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