Thread: Light practice without helmet or shoulder pads - 6 players out.

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The Chicago Bears held a light practice without helmet or shoulder pads and still were missing six players, four of them starters, in practice Wednesday at the Walter Payton Center.

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, sidelined since the Dec. 2 loss to the Seahawks with a hamstring injury, remained out. That puts him in jeopardy of not playing Sunday against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Urlacher ran before the game this past Sunday at Arizona and coach Lovie Smith indicated it was a possibility Urlacher would play this week.

Smith said Urlacher is “getting better,” but at this point a recovery in time for the game seems less likely. He still has two days to practice but when a player has been sidelined for four weeks, the team generally likes to have him on the field for at least a week. Urlacher’s stamina could be a significant issue and at this point the Bears could be focused on having him available for a potential playoff appearance.

Running back Matt Forte (right ankle), free safety Chris Conte (hamstring) and cornerback Charles Tillman (ribs/elbow) also were sidelined. Linebacker Blake Costanzo (calf) and running back Armando Allen (knee) also were out. Defensive tackle Henry Melton (clavicle) and right tackle Jonathan Scott (hamstring) were limited while cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) had full participation.

The Bears are optimistic Forte will be ready to play in what is a must-win game, but coach Lovie Smith said Conte will be “out a while” and that likely means he will not play Sunday and could miss multiple postseason weeks. Tillman’s injuries will not prevent him from playing Sunday.

Melton practiced last week but did not play in the game at Arizona and it sounds like he is on track to return after missing the previous two games.

“We’re hopeful again with him, and he was close last week,” Smith said. “A team like this it would be important to get a dominant inside player that can rush the passer and play the run too. Henry knows what’s at stake, too, and hopefully we’ll have him.”