Spencer Expected to Play Monday, Carimi, Bennett, Harris Still Out.........
Spencer's broken hand shouldn't stop him from playing against Lions
Carimi doesn't know if he'll be available for Monday night game
By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter October 4, 2011
Chris Spencer's broken right hand shouldn't stop him from playing this week, according to Bears coach Lovie Smith.
The offensive lineman finished Sunday's game at right guard with a cast he received at halftime. He played in 2009 with a broken right hand for the Seahawks, but it will make things more challenging.
- "I wouldn't say (he's) one-handed," Smith said. "Guys are all banged up at this time. Whenever you have a player finish the game, you feel pretty good about him going into the next one. But that's all we know right now."
How the Bears will look on the offensive line remains to be seen. Right tackle Frank Omiyale was benched Sunday, and until Gabe Carimi comes back from a subluxation of his right knee suffered in Week 2, it's a mix-and-match situation.
"There is pain in the kneecap from everything," Carimi said. "It's a week-by-week, day-by-day thing. I honestly don't know (if he can return this week)." (Translation from "player speak; "I'm not playing")
Lance Louis moved from right guard, where he was spelling the injured Spencer, to right tackle. He hasn't started there since his senior season at San Diego State in 2008. (that's ok start him anyway, anybody but OMG)
"What we've seen from Lance is he contributed in a lot of ways, and that just has to make us better in the long run," Smith said.
Strong following: Wide receiver Roy Williams was a first-round draft pick of the Lions in 2004, and he knows how tough it has been for Lions fans over the years.
"They have a team to cheer for this year," Williams said. "It's been building. Everybody wants to get on (former team president) Matt Millen. I think Matt Millen built a great team. Somehow, some way, it just didn't work with the players. They've got a team that's opening people's eyes.
"I'm happy for those fans. Those are the most devoted fans — I'm not taking anything away from Chicago or Dallas or anywhere else — those are the most devoted fans to go through what we went through and they still showed up." (I don't know about that Roy. We've put up with you haven't we?)
Face plant: Teammates have been getting on running back Marion Barber for his attempted back flip after his 3-yard touchdown run Sunday. He didn't pull it off and landed on his helmet. Now he has a new critic.
"It's hard enough staying healthy during the play," Smith said. "You don't want them to put themselves at risk. Normally you learn from it. And if you decide to make a flip, at least make it all the way over." (He was practicing his "cannonball" into the whirlpool Lovie)
Extra points: Smith said the Bears need to clean up their play-calling to avoid wasting so many timeouts. … The defense did limit the Panthers to 2-for-12 on third-down conversions. … The Bears opened as a 6-point underdog, the first time the Lions have been favored at home in the series since 2005, when they went off at minus-3. (Ya' think :4_13_13[1]:)
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