Besides LT We Have Another Concern..........

**soulman** · 08-12-2012, 10:30 AM

Urlacher returns to camp but doesn't practice

Bears linebacker still has soreness in left knee

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 7:51 p.m. CDT, August 11, 2012

BOURBONNAIS — Nearly a week away from the team for personal reasons has not healed Brian Urlacher's left knee, but replacements the Bears brought to training camp are because of other injuries at linebacker.

Urlacher returned to training camp Saturday at Olivet Nazarene after being excused for nearly a week, but he watched practice in a floppy hat, not a helmet. The eight-time Pro Bowl performer has not practiced since July 31. Unless he returns to action quickly, it's doubtful he will play in the second exhibition game Saturday against the Redskins at Soldier Field.

"Brian Urlacher is back after he has taken care of some business, so it is good to get him back out on the practice field even though he is not practicing yet," coach Lovie Smith said. "He still has some soreness with the knee. We'll continue to monitor it. Exactly when he will be back, I can't tell you that, but it's good to get him back here."

Asked if Urlacher's business away from the team involved the knee, Smith balked. (Smoking gun! You can bet on it)

"Brian's knee is sore and he has been gone for personal reasons," he said. "That is all we're going to really talk on the subject."

Urlacher had been wearing a brace on his knee when he was practicing. Smith warned a week ago the club was going to take its time with him, but everyone continues to say he will be ready when the regular season begins in four weeks.

He was cleared for full participation before camp opened after sitting out the offseason program. Urlacher sprained the medial collateral ligament and partially sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in the Jan. 1 finale last season at Minnesota.

It's not Urlacher's absence that prompted the Bears to add a pair of linebackers — Xavier Adibi, a former member of the Vikings and Texans, and K.C. Asiodu, an undrafted free agent from Central Oklahoma — to the roster. The Bears are running thin at the position as Dom DeCicco (groin) and Jabara Williams (hamstring) are out.

Smith said DeCicco, who was second on the team with 17 special teams tackles as a rookie, has a "pretty good pull" and "will be out a while."

The Bears also signed defensive end Aston Whiteside, an Abilene Christian product who was waived by the Cowboys on Monday. The team made room by moving Alex Brown to the reserve/retired list and waiving cornerback Jeremy Ware and defensive tackle Ronnie Cameron.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

**ZifanQ** · 08-12-2012, 10:35 AM

Perhaps the reason why we just signed 2 other LB's? Just make it last, two years more Brian and you'll hopefully have SB ring!

**bearsinhouston** · 08-12-2012, 10:45 AM

Yes, I was concerned with this as soon as he was taken out of practice. When you have all summer to heal and you don't, then trying to heal while playing isn't going to happen. The thing now is that he irritated it and now has only about a month to heal when all summer didn't heal it previously. That is a red flag to me. I think we are only about 50% at best that he will truly be ok by the start of the season. I think he will play regardless, but he probably won't be at the top of his game and is open to a real injury.

I know it sounds pessimistic, but I'm trying to be real about it. I just don't see it healing in the next month when he semi-reinjured it and the summer was not enough time to make it heal.

**soulman** · 08-12-2012, 10:47 AM

It's time to cut through the crap gang and look at the reality of what's going on with Urlacher.

The knee isn't healing like it should so there's a very good chance the damage was worse than expected. I suspected last week that his absence "for personal reasons" had nothing to do with Jenny McCarthy and everything to do with having that knee re-evaluated.

The truth, I suspect, is that Brian wants some additional prognosis regarding his recovery and at the same time he's trying to find out whether or not he should have a surgery done now and how long it will keep him out if he does. I think the knee is gonna need surgery and it's just a matter of when.

Now the delay in extending his contract is making more sense. The Bears have known about this for quite a while now and they also know that it's potentially more serious than anyone is letting on. Brian has a decision to make. I'll bet on it. Does he forgo the surgery until after the season and risk further injury by playing on it so the Bears can shoot for a SB or does he have the surgery done now and miss most of the season but hopefully recover in time for the playoffs?

His career, both current, and what's left of it is on the line right now thanks to that f'n bonehead move of Major Wright. Brian can play on it because they can take care of the pain problem but what's the risk? Will he pass on the surgery and play out the rest of his days on bad knees like Butkus or does he risk losing this entire season to have it done and hopefully extend his career another couple of years?

No one is saying this right now but I'd bet I'm right. The pieces are beginning to fit together awfully well.

**Dagan81** · 08-12-2012, 10:49 AM

Lord sweet baby Jesus let Urlacher be healthy for the start of the season!

**bearsinhouston** · 08-12-2012, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

I suspected last week that his absence "for personal reasons" had nothing to do with Jenny McCarthy and everything to do with having that knee re-evaluated.

The truth, I suspect, is that Brian wants some additional prognosis regarding his recovery and at the same time he's trying to find out whether or not he should have a surgery done now and how long it will keep him out if he does. I think the knee is gonna need surgery and it's just a matter of when.

This is exactly what I have been thinking also

**Dagan81** · 08-12-2012, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

It's time to cut through the crap gang and look at the reality of what's going on with Urlacher.

The knee isn't healing like it should so there's a very good chance the damage was worse than expected. I suspected last week that his absence "for personal reasons" had nothing to do with Jenny McCarthy and everything to do with having that knee re-evaluated.

The truth, I suspect, is that Brian wants some additional prognosis regarding his recovery and at the same time he's trying to find out whether or not he should have a surgery done now and how long it will keep him out if he does. I think the knee is gonna need surgery and it's just a matter of when.

Now the delay in extending his contract is making more sense. The Bears have known about this for quite a while now and they also know that it's potentially more serious than anyone is letting on. Brian has a decision to make. I'll bet on it. Does he forgo the surgery until after the season and risk further injury by playing on it so the Bears can shoot for a SB or does he have the surgery done now and miss most of the season but hopefully recover in time for the playoffs?

His career, both current, and what's left of it is on the line right now thanks to that f'n bonehead move of Major Wright. Brian can play on it because they can take care of the pain problem but what's the risk? Will he pass on the surgery and play out the rest of his days on bad knees like Butkus or does he risk losing this entire season to have it done and hopefully extend his career another couple of years?

No one is saying this right now but I'd bet I'm right. The pieces are beginning to fit together awfully well.

At his age, his ligaments aren't going to be as limber as they were ten years ago. As such, when he aggravated them with the strains to his MCL and PCL, he may have turned himself into the 2012 version of Dick Butkus and Mickey Mantle in that he will have to play on bad knees or just retire.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-12-2012, 12:44 PM

We've all been in denial regarding Urlacher (me too). You think he'll be an iron man forever. But he's old and high mileage at a position that hammers the body relentlessly.

We should have had Urlacher's eventual replacement on board already to begin getting groomed to step in for Brian (and please, don't tell me Roach is a viable replacement for Urlacher). I don't expect that we have to continue the Chicago Bears history of having Hall of Fame middle linebackers (we've had 5 now with Brian), but we DO need a significantly better MLB than Roach.

And Briggs isn't getting any younger either. His window is probably 2 more seasons. Brian? Maybe, if this injury is worse than we think, could retire at the end of this year, or next at the latest.

Where is his replacement?

**bearsinhouston** · 08-12-2012, 12:51 PM

Well, we have two real positions of need right now. LB and OT. Emery was able to hande WR and De last year while strengthening QB, CB, and S. It is possible that by the end of next year, he may have fixed all of JA's open holes and we can be where we need to be.

Right now, I believe we can get by with the OL we have. We basically had the same OL last year and when they stayed away from the 7 step drops we were ok. If we can't do it this year, then one of two things is happening. The OL has regressed under Tice, or play calling will have regressed under Tice. Either way, if the Ol plays worse than last year, it's on Tice.

As far as LB is concerned, I don't have a good feeling that Urlacher will be able to give us a good effort this year. I am praying I am wrong about that. We'll see. We can still be decent if the pass rush is great and we don't have to rely on the LB as much. Still too many moving parts to effectively evaluate how much of an impact it will be not to have 54 on the field. It won't be good though.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-12-2012, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

Well, we have two real positions of need right now. LB and OT. Emery was able to hande WR and De last year while strengthening QB, CB, and S. It is possible that by the end of next year, he may have fixed all of JA's open holes and we can be where we need to be.

Right now, I believe we can get by with the OL we have. We basically had the same OL last year and when they stayed away from the 7 step drops we were ok. If we can't do it this year, then one of two things is happening. The OL has regressed under Tice, or play calling will have regressed under Tice. Either way, if the Ol plays worse than last year, it's on Tice.

As far as LB is concerned, I don't have a good feeling that Urlacher will be able to give us a good effort this year. I am praying I am wrong about that. We'll see. We can still be decent if the pass rush is great and we don't have to rely on the LB as much. Still too many moving parts to effectively evaluate how much of an impact it will be not to have 54 on the field. It won't be good though.

When Brian went down to injury early in 2009, our season went down with him. It was time to pack up the tent and go home. We had a losing season. The defense was significantly hurt by his absence.

I'm not saying we can't have a good season this year if Brian isn't 100%, or worse, he can't play, but it sure isn't exactly a "good thing" to ponder.

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