DT Paea (ankle) hopes to play vs. Browns

**Riczaj01** · 08-20-2012, 03:35 PM

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears

DT Paea (ankle) hopes to play vs. Browns

August, 20, 2012 Aug 20
1:56
PM CT

By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

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Bradley Leeb/US PresswireStephen Paea hasn't practiced in 10 days, but he hopes to be ready for the Bears' preseason finale against the Browns on Aug. 30.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Chicago Bears defensive tackle Stephen Paea is optimistic he can return to the practice field by the end of the week and believes he can be ready to play in the club’s preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 30.

Paea suffered a sprained ankle at practice 10 days ago and has been sidelined ever since. The Bears travel to the New York area to face the Giants on Friday night and then are scheduled to be back on the Halas Hall practice field on Sunday to begin preparations for the preseason finale against the Browns.

“Rehab is good,” Paea said Monday. “Right now I’m feeling around 75 to 80 percent so I’m guessing another week will help. By the time the Cleveland Browns game (rolls around) I’m pretty sure I’ll suit up for the game.

“I’m guessing right after the Giants game (I can return to practice). I just follow the instructions the trainers give me and we go from there.”

Before he got hurt, Paea put together an excellent first two weeks of camp which resulted in the 2011 second-round draft choice being elevated to the No. 1 nose tackle spot over last season's starter, veteran Matt Toeaina. As a rookie, Paea appeared in 11 games and compiled 18 total tackles and 2.0 sacks, but spent much of the season recovering from a knee injury he sustained in January 2011 at Senior Bowl practice.

“It’s hard to stand on the sidelines and watch my teammates practice,” Paea said. “I feel like the biggest loser out there. I just got to get my mind right and take it day by day and see how it feels.”

**soulman** · 08-20-2012, 04:10 PM

I'm a big fan of Paea and I hope he gets back soon but Price and Collins have used their time to show some pretty good stuff too. I thought after we lost Okoye and AA that we'd be a little thin at DT but these guys Emery picked up can play some.

Every day that goes by I see more and more the benefit of having a good scout for a GM. Phil is a seeker and a finder of talent.

**short faced bear** · 08-20-2012, 06:00 PM

That he is Soul. I'd be ok if Paea sat out one more week with Collins and Price vetting themselves a bit more and getting a few more reps.

**Dagan81** · 08-20-2012, 10:28 PM

This is exciting news! I've been wondering how long he'd be out. It's not like it really matters since it's preseason, but you always want to make sure you get plenty of repetitions in for every player in order to get the kinks worked out before the big time comes around.

**bearsinhouston** · 08-20-2012, 10:45 PM

Don't do an Urlacher. Make sure it's ready before putting him out on the field again. Otherwise he is going to on again/off again all season and be ineffective

**soulman** · 08-20-2012, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

That he is Soul. I'd be ok if Paea sat out one more week with Collins and Price vetting themselves a bit more and getting a few more reps.

Yeah, he's not due back before the Cleveland game anyway and since that's the last chance for guys trying to make the 53 man roster and PS we probably won't see much of him then either if at all. I'd say just rest him and keep him out of the games. Practice is enough. He's good to go.

**Dagan81** · 08-23-2012, 08:19 PM

Our defensive line is going to be absolutely beastly this year, I have a feeling. I think Paea can be at least as good at getting to the quarterback as Melton was last year, and he's a good run defender as well.

**bearsinhouston** · 08-23-2012, 09:04 PM

You know, I'm kind of thinking (hoping) you may be right. The Dl is one of the things I've been conserned about, but they showed me some pressure early on. I think they may be pretty good before it's all over.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Our defensive line is going to be absolutely beastly this year, I have a feeling. I think Paea can be at least as good at getting to the quarterback as Melton was last year, and he's a good run defender as well.

**Dagan81** · 08-23-2012, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

You know, I'm kind of thinking (hoping) you may be right. The Dl is one of the things I've been conserned about, but they showed me some pressure early on. I think they may be pretty good before it's all over.

I can see Paea having his similarities to someone like a Wally Chambers, a Dan Hampton, a Steve McMichael, or a Tommy Harris. I just hope that Paea doesn't turn into Wally Chambers in terms of how his career winds up.

**short faced bear** · 08-23-2012, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I can see Paea having his similarities to someone like a Wally Chambers, a Dan Hampton, a Steve McMichael, or a Tommy Harris. I just hope that Paea doesn't turn into Wally Chambers in terms of how his career winds up.

+1 for the Wally Chambers reference

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