Hood could help at corner

The Bears, who have played short-handed at cornerback throughout the preseason, are expected to sign Rod Hood Tuesday to bolster a position that has been thinned by the absence of Charles Tillman (back) and Zack Bowman (hamstring).

Hood, 27, started 30 games the past two seasons for the Arizona Cardinals but was cut to save money under the salary cap and signed with the Browns in the off-season after visiting with the Bears in May. He was cut by the Browns Monday.

Trumaine McBride has seen extended playing time for the Bears in the preseason but has been unimpressive. Nate Vasher, the other starter at cornerback in the Bears’ first three preseason games, has not come close to matching his 2005 Pro Bowl season in recent years. He has missed 20 games over the past two seasons because of injuries.

Tillman has vowed to be ready for the regular-season opener following mid-June surgery, but neither he nor Bowman have played in the preseason. Throughout the off-season and in training camp before his injury, Bowman had been playing well enough to challenge for a starting job.

Corey Graham started nine games at cornerback last season when Vasher was hurt, but he has been getting most of his work at nickel back in place of Danieal Manning, who has also been sidelined throughout the preseason with a hamstring injury.