Thread: Chicago: where safeties come for disability

Bears hopeful hurt safeties all right

Conte leaves exhibition victory with ailing shoulder and Hardin goes down with apparent neck injury

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter
11:57 PM CDT, August 18, 2012
The Bears' safety situation might be a little more complicated, depending on the injury status of Chris Conte and rookie Brandon Hardin.

Starting free safety Conte suffered a shoulder injury during Saturday's 33-31 exhibition victory over the Redskins. He left the field under his own power midway through the second quarter and went to the locker room. He did not return and exited the stadium with his right arm in a sling.

A teammate said Conte told him he would be OK despite feeling the shoulder pop out of place.

The news got worse when Conte's backup, Hardin, was carted off the field in the third quarter with a neck injury. Hardin, who was taken to an area hospital, appeared to lead with his head attempting to tackle tight endLogan Paulsen.

Bears coach Lovie Smith said in his postgame news conference that he didn't think Conte's injury was too serious and that he hopes for the best for Hardin because the rookie was able to move his arms and legs.

The Bears often preach that their safeties are interchangeable, so Major Wright could see time at free safety next Saturday when the Bears face the Giants, if Conte does not play. Craig Steltz, listed as Wright's backup at strong safety, has impressed the coaching staff this preseason.

Wright is optimistic about his fellow safeties.

"They are going to be all right," he said. "They are some tough guys, I just heard back from Chris, and he's all good. We just need them to recover fast. … My prayers go out to (Hardin). We prayed for him on the field.''

If Conte and Hardin are unable to return soon, the Bears might have to search around for a free agent — such as former Bear Winston Venable — who is familiar with the system. The only other safeties on the roster are unproven Anthony Walters, Trevor Coston and Jeremy Jones.

Strong showing: Michael Bush more than atoned for his lackluster Bears' debut.

Bush, who fumbled in last week's loss to the Broncos, made up for the blunder one quarter into Saturday night's exhibition against the Redskins. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound back scored a pair of first-quarter rushing touchdowns, including a nifty 8-yard run.

The former Raider was signed in the offseason to assume the role of goal-line back. Bush capped a six-play, 82-yard drive with a 1-yard dive, following Tyler Clutts' lead block straight to the end zone for the Bears first score.

Two possessions later, Bush helped the Bears capitalize on a turnover after Julius Peppers recovered rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III's fumble at the Redskins' 8. Israel Idonije caused the Griffin fumble.

Bush took a handoff from Jay Cutler on second down and then put a juke move on Redskins linebacker Perry Riley en route to the end zone. Lance Louis, Gabe Carimi and Kellen Davis all had solid blocks on the play.

"It felt good, but it's preseason,"' Bush said of his performance. "I'd like it a lot more if it was the regular season, but it felt good being out there."

Bush had seven rushing touchdowns in the red zone last season.

Extra points: Punter Adam Podlesh injured his hip trying to chase down Brandon Banks on Banks' 91-yard punt return for a touchdown. Podlesh is to have an MRI on Sunday. … Eric Weems, rather than Devin Hester, fielded the first kickoff for the Bears. Weems, who had a 48-yard kickoff return at the end of the half, could become the primary kick returner for the regular season with Hester set to return punts. … CouldLorenzo Booker get into the mix? He had a 105-yard kickoff return to start the second half. … Brian Urlacher, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday, was not with the team Saturday night. … Linebacker J.T. Thomas continued to make a case for himself by picking up a tackle on the opening kickoff. … Defensive tackle Brian Price made a nice play upon entering the game, stopping a Redskins running back for a 3-yard loss. Price came on near the end of the training camp. … The Redskins lost star pass-rusher Brian Orakpo (shoulder) and starting safety Brandon Meriweather (knee) to first-half injuries. Meriweather played for the Bears last season.