Bears receiver Johnny Knox watched practice during the team's OTA on Wednesday, looking thin following the back surgery he had late last season. Knox said he lost 30 pounds after surgery, then gained 10. That puts him at about 165 pounds. He was in a cast for 2 1/2 months and could miss extensive playing time. The team is expected to place him on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin the year. "It could happen, but I'm staying optimistic," he said. "I'm not in a rush. This is my spine, the core of my body that I'm dealing with. It's not my knee or my ankle or my shoulder." (Updated 05/23/2012)
ESPN.com reports that Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who damaged ligaments in his knee during last season's final game at Minnesota but did not require surgery, said it "feels good" on Tuesday. "I've had so much time in the offseason to get it right," he said. "I still have four months [until training camp]. I'm definitely not in a big hurry. I've done everything to this point I've been asked to do. I'm sure when the time's right, I'll be ready to play. I have six months before the season starts to get ready. I'll be good to go when the time is right." (Updated 04/11/2012)
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler says his thumb is healed following offseason surgery after breaking it during the 2011 season. And he certainly gives a thumbs-up to the Bears adding Brandon Marshall via trade and Alshon Jeffery in the draft. But he told the Chicago Sun-Times that his offensive line is still a concern of his. "If Gabe [Carimi] comes back, if J'Marcus [Webb] pans out. Where are we going to put Chris Williams? There are some question marks there," Cutler candidly said. "Until we really get that resolved, and get our front five settled in, we've got some work to do on offense. ... There are going to be times it's 3rd and 8, 3rd and 10, and we're going to have to take seven step drops and we're going to have the longer route and they're going to have to protect." (Updated 05/15/2012)
