Bennett Still Out of Action but Hester Expected to Play...............

Bennett won't return for Bears vs. Bucs By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter 4:49 p.m. CDT, October 20, 2011


Chicago Bears receiver Earl Bennett, who suffered what was called a chest injury in Week 2 at New Orleans, will not play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday in London, according to a league source.


Bennett had full participation in practice Wednesday for the first time since the injury, leading to optimism about his status, and practiced full again Thursday. But Bennett obviously needs another week to recover. Bears coach Lovie Smith wouldn't commit to Bennett playing when pressed on the issue Thursday.

While Bennett will remain out, fellow receiver Devin Hester is expected to play in London after suffering a minor chest injury vs. the Vikings. Hester practiced full Thursday after not practicing Wednesday.

Safety Major Wright (hip) was limited Thursday, allowing Chris Harris to return to first-team duties at strong safety alongside free safety Chris Conte. Offensive tackle Gabe Carimi and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina will miss Sunday's game with knee injuries. Smith said Carimi should be good to go after the bye week. The rookie suffered a partial dislocation of his right knee in the New Orleans game.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

That hit Bennett took against the Saints must have done some real hurt for him to be out this long. Hester can play and it looks like Harris is back in the line up with Conte while Wright nurses a booboo.

The real good news is that Lovies says Carimi may be back after the bye week.

I don't know that I'd play him over Louis, if he has another solid outing, though. Maybe over Webb, but Webb held his own against Jared Allen (granted, there was double teaming and the one sack on cutler was attributed to him, but we all know Cutler basically scrambled into him); hopefully we can give him as much time as needed..

good news that Bennett and Carimi are good to go after the bye

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Originally Posted by Henry Burris

I don't know that I'd play him over Louis, if he has another solid outing, though. Maybe over Webb, but Webb held his own against Jared Allen (granted, there was double teaming and the one sack on cutler was attributed to him, but we all know Cutler basically scrambled into him); hopefully we can give him as much time as needed..

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If Louis keeps playing well at least it creates some options that we haven't had before and any option that keeps OMG as far away from the field as possible is a good one. I would really like to see them cast him adrift when Carimi gets back and move one of the PS guys up. OMG has peaked and his peak makes Death Valley look like Mount Everest.

as far as Carimi coming back goes, im not so sure im ready to just insert him into the starting lineup again. Lance Louis is playing really well at right tackle. If he comes out and plays good again this week, its gonna be hard to just remove him from the starting lineup for a rookie.

What did Bennett do, crack his sternum or ribs? Strange they don't list what his injury is. Carimi should come in at LT, Louis at RT and Omiyale on the cutting room floor.

agreed. Carimi I still feel is a WAY better left tackle than Webb. Webb is slower than my grandma, seriously,

I think Tice is right when he says the kid has a lot of athleticism. I've seen it but his problems are in his head. It's not his quickness it's his reaction time and that's because he's a slow thinker. When you watch his false start penalties against Detroit you can see it.

The Lions defense jumps the count and he just tenatively stands up out of his stance. It's like, "Am I supposed to move now or what"? How many years has he been playing OT and he still doesn't know enough to stay set once he gets into his stance? His problem is that he's not too bright and his reactions are slow. There's a reason he ended his collge careet at West Bumfvck A&M instead of the U of Texas where he started out.

You could work the loud noise at a level unparalleled by any other dome he's been in, and nerves getting at him, too. I think giving him Spaeth to slow down the better end is helping him, and pulling him for Carimi might not help either one, or the entire squad...