Bear Essentials

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.

Today’s inactive are defensive tackles Tommie Harris (knee), Matt Toeaina and Jarron Gilbert, wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias, running back Adrian Peterson (knee), cornerback D.J. Moore, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) and guard Lance Louis.

Marcus Harrison will start in place of Harris, and Hunter Hillenmeyer, who missed the previous two games with a fractured rib, starts in place of Tinoisamoa.

Nick Roach remains at middle linebacker, where he has been since he replaced Hillenmeyer, when he was injured on Sept. 27 against the Seahawks.

Almost from the moment he was drafted, Johnny Knox has been asked how his elite speed compares to that of teammates Devin Hester and fellow Abilene Christian product Danieal Manning.

"I get that a lot," Knox said, "but you can't forget about Darryl MaGee, the dude that was on the sideline with my kickoff return. He should be in that category too."

Magee is the Bears ball boy who was shadow highlighted by ESPN while running along the sideline nearly step for step with Knox during the rookie's 102-yard kickoff-return TD.

As for challenging his teammates, Knox said: "If we did race, I'd be nervous because we have some pretty fast guys on this team."

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris did not take part in any portion of the Bears' Friday practice inside the Walter Payton Center and will be listed as "doubtful," on the official injury report, which is due out at 3 p.m., meaning he has a 25 percent chance of playing.

Harris, who is frequently excused from Wednesday practices because of chronic soreness in his surgical left knee, did not practice at all this week. He declined to speak with the media after Friday’s practice, but coach Lovie Smith addressed his status.

“Tommie still has some (knee) soreness from the last game,” Smith said. “I can’t spend a lot of time concerned about guys that can’t (play) right now. I just want them to continue to get treatment and get better. That’s what Tommie is doing.”

Unless he’s a quick-change artist, defensive tackle Tommie Harris is not practicing with the Bears today, leaving him little chance, if any, to play in Sunday’s game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.

The three-time Pro Bowler was not on the field inside the Walter Payton Center during the brief media-viewing portion of practice but was dressed in sweats and seated on a bench near the practice field.

Harris rarely practices on Wednesdays because of a chronically sore left knee, but he has not practiced all week and appears doubtful, at best, for Sunday, although he could still be on the field if his situation improves. He has not officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game. The official injury report is due out at 3 p.m.

I don't agree with Lovie's decision to keep the ineffective offensive line intact for another week. And I don't buy the argument that 6-foot-2, 310-pound Josh Beekman is too small to be effective, especially when Frank Omiyale is considered to have superior size at 6-4 and 315.

The Denver Broncos have one of the most effective offensive lines year after year, and they also have one of the smallest offensive lines every year. Last year they were No. 1 in sack percentage allowed and No. 2 in total yards. Jay Cutler threw 616 passes for the Broncos, the second most in the league, and he was sacked just 12 times.

Say what you want about Cedric Benson, but he was a breath of fresh air in the Bears locker room for three years, even when I had no clue what he was talking about, which was fairly often.

His most endearing quality was his honesty. I don’t think the guy knows how to lie. The Bears frequently had a public relations representative hovering within earshot of Benson every time he opened his mouth, just so they could monitor everything he was saying to the media.

He’s evidently a lot happier in Cincinnati, where he came into a situation where he was “The Guy.” In Chicago he had to battle for playing time against an established player in Thomas Jones, who had the loyalty of most of his teammates, and deservedly so.