Conte Has Plans to Play in Opener...............

**soulman** · 08-22-2012, 01:31 AM

Conte plans on playing in opener

Safety will rehab dislocated shoulder in hopes it will be strong enough for Sept. 9 against Colts

Bears safety Chris Conte plans to be ready on opening day, despite dislocating his right shoulder on Saturday. (Brian Cassella / August 21, 2012)

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 8:58 p.m. CDT, August 21, 2012

Chris Conte, who dislocated his right shoulder Saturday in the Bears' exhibition victory over the Redskins, plans to return for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the Colts in Soldier Field.

The starting free safety remained sidelined at practice Tuesday while recovering from the injury.

"They didn't give me a time frame, but it's day-to-day,'' Conte said. "There's no doubt in my mind that I'll be back for Game 1.''

Conte was injured tackling Redskins running back Evan Royster midway through the second quarter. He left the stadium in a sling.

"I just hit him, and I thought it was a normal hit,'' Conte said. "They way I hit him, my shoulder just came out.''

A dislocation occurs with the top of the arm bone loses contact with the shoulder blade, as is what happened to Conte. A separated shoulder happens as a result of spraining the AC joint at the top of the shoulder. Depending on the degree of separation, the dislocation could be viewed as a more severe injury because of the arm coming out of the shoulder socket.

There are no plans for Conte to have surgery, and doctors typically only perform those on recurring dislocations of the shoulder. Conte is expected simply to rehab his shoulder the remainder of the preseason and possibly play with a harness when he returns to action.

With Conte sidelined and his backup, rookie Brandon Hardin, out with a neck injury, the Bears are thin at the position. Major Wright and Craig Steltz will start Friday against the host Giants. Wright, who has been working as the starting strong safety, continued in that role Tuesday with Steltz at free safety.

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said his safeties are interchangeable.

"What you like to do at this time of the year is they both play both,'' Marinelli said of Wright and Steltz. "You want to keep them sharp. You don't want to get a guy just buried into one position."

Extra points: Special teams coordinator Dave Toub singled out the play of veteran Eric Weems against the Redskins. Toub didn't mention anyone else. … Linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee), defensive tackle Stephen Paea (ankle) and tight end Matt Spaeth (leg) were among the players sidelined at practice along with punter Adam Podlesh (hip), Conte, and Hardin. … Defensive end Corey Wootton (groin) returned to practice after sitting out Monday. … The Bears waived/injured defensive tackle DeMario Pressley, who had been sidelined with a foot injury.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23

**MPBears68** · 08-22-2012, 10:13 AM

Why the hell can't we keep our safeties healthy???

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-22-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by MPBears68

Why the hell can't we keep our safeties healthy???

This is just my own idea, so it may be wrong. I believe the game as evolved to where a safety has to tackle bigger/faster players than ever before. TE's are a big part of the game now, and they range between 250 upwards to near 300 pounds - and they can run as fast as RB's did not too many years ago. And there are bigger/faster RB's now too. Guys like our Clutts at 260 pounds, or Bush who is nearly 250. In fact, many WR's now are big boys, like our Brandon Marshall listed on our roster as being 230 pounds.

These guys bring a load.

And safeties are not so big (most of our safeties are ~190 to 210 pounds......Conte is listed at 203 pounds). So it's basic physics. We used to call it "Conservation of Linear Momentum" which is basically saying our safeties are like bugs hitting a windshield now. And the bugs (safeties) lose.

I believe we will always experience safety injuries. I'm glad we do have solid depth at the position.

**blinddeafmute** · 08-22-2012, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

This is just my own idea, so it may be wrong. I believe the game as evolved to where a safety has to tackle bigger/faster players than ever before. TE's are a big part of the game now, and they range between 250 upwards to near 300 pounds - and they can run as fast as RB's did not too many years ago. And there are bigger/faster RB's now too. Guys like our Clutts at 260 pounds, or Bush who is nearly 250. In fact, many WR's now are big boys, like our Brandon Marshall listed on our roster as being 230 pounds.

These guys bring a load.

And safeties are not so big (most of our safeties are ~190 to 210 pounds......Conte is listed at 203 pounds). So it's basic physics. We used to call it "Conservation of Linear Momentum" which is basically saying our safeties are like bugs hitting a windshield now. And the bugs (safeties) lose.

I believe we will always experience safety injuries. I'm glad we do have solid depth at the position.

I agree. With more tight end involvement, and underneath routes, the safeties are smaller and have to make a lot of high speed tackles. Their tackles are usually from a larger distance, allowing for higher impact tackles.

Depth at the position is vital.

**Papa Bear** · 08-22-2012, 12:00 PM

You can just pop that sucker back in to place and get back to work. (Disclaimer: All of my dislocated shoulder expertise is taken from the Lethal Weapon movies.)

**short faced bear** · 08-22-2012, 01:32 PM

I think we would be ok if he didn't play (or limit play) vs. Colts. Rather err on the side of caution as I think Conte is going to have a big season.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-22-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

I think we would be ok if he didn't play (or limit play) vs. Colts. Rather err on the side of caution as I think Conte is going to have a big season.

That would be the smart way to handle it.

**soulman** · 08-22-2012, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Papa Bear

You can just pop that sucker back in to place and get back to work. (Disclaimer: All of my dislocated shoulder expertise is taken from the Lethal Weapon movies.)

Yep, just go bang into a goal post and pop the puppy right back in. Call Mel Gibson and he'll show you how it's done. LOL

**Papa Bear** · 08-22-2012, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

Yep, just go bang into a goal post and pop the puppy right back in. Call Mel Gibson and he'll show you how it's done. LOL

And then Briggs will just shake his head and say "I'm gettin' to old for this s---."

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