Thread: Bears plan Steltz-Meriweather duo

Bears plan Steltz-Meriweather duo

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter

11:31 p.m. CDT, September 22, 2011
With Chris Harris likely a game-time decision coming off a hamstring injury, the Bears are preparing Craig Steltz to start at strong safety alongside free safety Brandon Meriweather.

Then again, Steltz says he prepares to start every day in practice.

"You want those guys to trust you, no matter the situation,'' Steltz said. "That all starts at practice. I'm just trying to take as many (first-team) reps as I can to gain the confidence of the other guys on defense.''

With Major Wright expected to miss the game with a head/neck injury and Harris still questionable and limited in practice Thursday, Meriweather and Steltz have to be prepared to be a better back line of defense than the safeties showed in Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Saints.

Better with age: Lance Briggs used an interesting analogy in describing the play of 33-year-old fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher.

"I think the best way to explain it is he's like a vintage (wine),'' Briggs said. "When you go in and it's a special date or special conference or meeting, you say, 'Give me a vintage. Give me your best wine.' You don't want a 2010. You don't want a 2011. You want something that goes way back because it gets better with age.''

Urlacher got a chuckle out of Briggs' commentary.

"I think I've gotten smarter,'' Urlacher said. "The longer I've played, the more knowledge I have for the game. There are some things I can't do athletically any more. … But I feel like my mental makes up for what I've lost athletically.''

Injury update: Receiver Roy Williams had full participation in practice Thursday as he continues to recover from a groin strain. He was limited Wednesday, so the upgrade makes his status for Sunday look promising.

Marion Barber remained limited coming off a calf strain and he appears to be questionable for Sunday. The same goes for guard Lance Louis as he recovers from a sprained ankle.

"It feels pretty good,'' Louis said. "I didn't think I'd be feeling like this, but it feels pretty good this week.''

Tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) and receiver Earl Bennett (chest) are expected to miss some time, according to coach Lovie Smith.

For the Packers, outside linebacker Clay Matthews (quad) and cornerback Charles Woodson (foot) were held out of practice for the second consecutive day but both are expected to play Sunday, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Defensive end Ryan Pickett (foot) and cornerback Tramon Williams (shoulder) were limited Thursday.

Extra points: The Saints were informed safety Roman Harper should not have been flagged for unnecessary roughness Sunday for a hit on Jay Cutler. … Since he hasn't appear on the injury report this week, defensive end Corey Wootton seems destined to make his 2011 debut Sunday after arthroscopic knee surgery in August. … Tenor Matthew Polenzani is scheduled to sing the national anthem on Sunday. Polenzani, who grew up rooting for the Bears, will appear in "The Tales of Hoffmann" Oct. 1-29 at the Lyric Opera.

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