Bears coach Lovie Smith is fan of Titans rookie Kendall Wright. (US Presswire) |
With Chris Johnson and Matt Hasselbeck on the minds of the Bears defense, it's easy to forget they'll have a challenge Sunday on third downs facing Titans rookie WR Kendall Wright from Baylor, who leads the NFL in third-down receptions with 19.
It won't be overlooked by coach Lovie Smith, though. He's had Wright on his radar since before the draft.
"We thought he was a heck of a football player," Smith said. "He’s from back in my home area, too, so I knew quite a bit about him. He’s played well, too, in the league, same things we saw in his college video he’s doing in the league: good quickness, has a great vertical so he can catch the football. I know they’re very pleased with him, and we’ll have to deal with him."
Injury update: The only player with an injury situation is WR Alshon Jeffery, who is out for Sunday's game due to a fractured hand. LB Lance Briggs (ankle), TE Matt Spaeth (ankle), and T Jonathan Scott (groin) are all probable after a full practice Friday. They had either missed practice or were involved only in individual drills earlier in the week.
Acceptable gains: Special teams coordinator Dave Toub doesn't expect Tennessee to squib kick all day to keep Devin Hester from returning kickoffs the way Carolina did. The Panthers are rated fourth overall on special teams, so they know what they're doing with coverage units.
Toub says the coaches "were loving it" when the Panthers used the squib, although Hester didn't share that love.
"It was frustrating for Devin because he wants to get a return," Toub said. "But the fact that we were getting the ball, I think we averaged the 37-yard line on kickoffs. That’s outstanding for your offense.”
Takes one to know one: When Bears defenders said they see Tennessee RB Chris Johnson looking like he always has, it seemed a matter of wanting to let sleeping dogs lie. But when RB Matt Forte says the same thing, it carries a little more weight.
When asked if Johnson has lost something, Forte said, "I don't believe that. Because how are you going to lose a step and then in one game you have 195 yards and you run away from everybody? I don't think that's losing a step."
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.