Thread: Urlacher Returns to Practice Today...........

Urlacher set to return to Bears practice Monday

Linebacker gearing up for season opener after having knee surgery Aug. 14

Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said he plans to practice Monday. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune photo) (September 2, 2012)

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 10:50 p.m. CDT, September 2, 2012


Brian Urlacher says the pain he felt throbbing in his left knee during training camp no longer exists. The Bears linebacker is ready to return to work.

Urlacher, who had arthroscopic surgery on the knee Aug. 14, admitted his reps might be limited but vowed to practice Monday. He will wear a brace, as he did at the beginning of training camp.

"My expectations are to be out there with my teammates practicing (Monday),'' Urlacher told the Tribune. "I might not have as many reps because I'm not quite where I want to be with wind and being in shape. But I expect it to be a normal practice, with a few less reps.''

Urlacher said he felt pain in his knee July 28 during the team's first padded practice of training camp. He did not play in any of the four exhibition games.

Urlacher originally suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament and partially sprained posterior cruciate ligament in the knee Jan. 1, during the Bears' season-ending victory over the Vikings. Urlacher had multiple procedures on the knee and felt back to normal upon reporting to training camp. He was able to rest and rehab during the offseason as he did not participate in mandatory minicamp or voluntary workouts.

Urlacher said he expects to start against the Colts on Sunday and play his normal amount of snaps. He never has missed an opener in 12 seasons.

"In 2004, I pulled my hamstring the first day of training camp and went six straight weeks without doing nothing, and I'm a little further ahead than I was back then,'' Urlacher said.

Urlacher said he's unconcerned about the quick turnaround between Games 1 and 2. The Bears follow the Colts game with a Thursday night trip to Green Bay to face the Packers.

"Everybody else on the team has to do it too, right?" Urlacher said.

Starting strong-side linebacker Nick Roach started at middle linebacker in Urlacher's place during the exhibition games. Urlacher, an eight-time Pro Bowler, said moving back into the starting lineup won't be a difficult adjustment.

"I do all the walk-throughs,'' he said. "It's not like I haven't been doing anything. We have a walk-through every day for 30 minutes. I've been through all that. I just haven't practiced.''

The 34-year-old Urlacher's knee might not be the same, but he said he doesn't expect the knee issue to linger throughout the season. He has spent the last few weeks working out on a side field with trainers on maneuvers such as backpedaling and making quick cuts.

"I feel good,'' he said. "I've been able to do everything that I've needed to do on the field. That's not an issue for me anymore. I have no pain, so that's good.''

However, in an interview on WFLD-Ch. 32's "The Final Word," Urlacher acknowledged his knee "just isn't the same anymore. It's never going to be the same."

Urlacher isn't the only defensive player expecting to return to practice this week. Both safety Chris Conte (dislocated shoulder) and nose tackle Stephen Paea (sprained ankle) previously announced intentions to return from their injuries in preparation for the Colts.

The Bears added an insurance policy at defensive tackle by re-signing Amobi Okoye to a one-year deal. Okoye, who recorded four sacks last season, left for Tampa Bay but was released by the Buccaneers after knee issues kept him sidelined. Okoye was cleared medically by the Bears on Saturday.

"I'm glad to have him back," Urlacher said. "We got lucky getting him back. … He fits perfectly for our defense.''

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23