Bear Essentials

Based on the only portion of practice that the media is allowed to watch, the first 5 minutes, Devin Hester appeared to be on schedule to play in Sunday’s game.

Hester stretched with teammates and was running without a limp, as he practiced Friday for the first time this week. Hester is expected to be limited at today’s practice, but he was moving much better than he had at any time since last Sunday’s game, when he suffered a mild ankle sprain that sidelined him briefly.

Over the past three weeks, Hester’s 21 catches are second in the NFL to Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald’s 25.

WR Devin Hester is not practicing for the second day in a row because of an ankle injury suffered during Sunday’s victory over the Browns. Hester is at practice but is walking gingerly, although he does appear to be moving somewhat better than on Wednesday.

Coach Lovie Smith had hoped to have the Bears’ leading receiver back on the practice field today, and he is not counting him out for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals at Soldier Field.

Hester leads the Bears with 35 receptions and 454 receiving yards and is second in the NFL over the past three weeks with 21 receptions, trailing only the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald, who has 25 catches.

Although defensive tackle Tommie Harris practiced on Wednesday, he was limited by, according to the team, a knee. Last week Harris claimed that he didn’t have a knee problem and that was something the media made up.

Other Bears limited at Wednesday’s practice were linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder), defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (ankle), tight end Greg Olsen (ankle), safety Craig Steltz (biceps) and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (calf). All are expected to play Sunday, with the possible exception of Toeaina.

As noted earlier, wide receiver Devin Hester did not practice because of an ankle injury suffered last Sunday against the Browns, but it is believed to be a mild sprain.

The ankle injury that briefly knocked Devin Hester out of last Sunday’s game may be a bit more serious than first thought.

Hester did not practice at all on Wednesday, but he’s expected to be on the field Sunday against the Cardinals at Soldier Field.

For the second straight Wednesday, defensive tackle Tommie Harris was on the practice field Wednesday and didn’t appear limited. According to coaches’ review of Sunday’s game film, Harris was credited with a season-high 4 tackles (1 solo, 3 assists) against the Browns.

I’ve gone back and forth on this, as one alert reader was quick to point out last week, but I’m not sure if this year’s Bears should even bother trying to be a team that gets off the bus running.

After seven games, I don’t think they have what it takes to be a team that can establish the run on a regular basis – maybe not at all. This looks like a team that may have to throw the ball effectively to set up the run, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It seems to work pretty well for the Colts and the Patriots.

Anyone who doesn’t think Devin Hester is a legitimate No. 1 receiver hasn’t been paying attention to the past three games.

In that time, Hester has 21 catches, and only the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald has more. Hester’s 21 receptions have produced 265 yards. Maybe even more impressive, in the past two games, Hester has been targeted by Jay Cutler 17 times, and he has 15 catches, meaning that he’s getting open and he’s catching everything close.

For the season, Hester has 35 receptions, 10 more than the nearest teammate, Earl Bennett. Hester has 454 receiving yards, 120 more than Bennett, who is second. That puts Hester on pace for 80 catches and 1,038 yards, which look a lot like go-to-guy numbers.

As expected, Josh Beekman will start at left guard today in place of Frank Omiyale, and linebackers Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nick Roach will switch spots, with Hillenmeyer moving to the middle and Roach moving to the strong side.

Also, Marcus Harrison, who played well last week filling in for Tommie Harris at the three-technique defensive tackle spot, starts in place of Anthony Adams at nose tackle. Harris is back at his old spot after resting last week.

Beekman started all 16 games last season but then lost his job in training camp to Omiyale, an off-season, free-agent acquisition, who has been a disappointment.

I'm not gonna lie, I have no idea what to expect from Tommie Harris on Sunday.

I don't know whether a week off will cure what ails him because I'm not sure I know what ails him, and I don't know if anybody else knows, including Harris.

He denies having a problem with his left knee, but that’s what the Bears have listed when he misses practice on most Wednesdays or when he’s limited for the rest of the week in practice. Lovie claims the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle isn’t trying to get out of practicing.

Tommie Harris was scheduled to be a full participant in Wednesday’s practice for the first time in nearly two weeks, and he was dressed and appeared ready to go when the Bears took the field Wednesday afternoon.

But defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (ankle) and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (calf) did not practice Wednesday.

Linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder), safety Danieal Manning (foot), defensive lineman Israel Idonije (knee) and running back Adrian Peterson (knee) were all limited at practice. All of them are expected to play Sunday with the possible exception of Peterson, who may require an additional week off.

What better time to tweak the lineup than this Sunday at home against a 1-6 Browns team that has scored less than 7 points in 4 of its 7 games this season?

The Browns have also allowed 27 points or more in 5 of their games. So why not shake up the lineup and light a few fires under some rear ends?

I’d like to see Josh Beekman get a shot at left guard, where Frank Omiyale has done very little to earn the job and less to keep it. Beekman started 16 games last season and did nothing to lose his job in training camp except have a smaller paycheck than Omiyale.

I wouldn’t mind seeing if Kevin Shaffer could do a better job opening holes at right tackle than Chris Williams has so far.