Bears set to host 49ers in preseason contest tonight
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CHICAGO – Given that starters will play into the third quarter, tonight’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers is probably the most important of the Bears’ four preseason contests.
“It’s the third preseason game and traditionally more teams play the majority of their players longer for that game and we’re the same way,” said coach Lovie Smith.
“We are going to play our guys longer, and the Colts are right around the corner and you want to play your best ball right now just for that, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Tonight’s game is the first since Kyle Orton was declared the winner of a competition with Rex Grossman for the Bears’ starting quarterback position.
Entering training camp on equal footing, Orton slightly outperformed Grossman in two preseason games, compiling a better completion percentage (63.2-56.5), yards per attempt average (5.21-5.13) and passer rating (76.4-66.9) while completing 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards.
Orton’s five preseason possessions have resulted in two field goals and three punts. The 2005 fourth-round draft pick operated a two-minute drill with efficiency last Saturday night in Seattle, engineering a 10-play, 51-yard drive in just 1:34 by completing 5 of 7 passes for 43 yards to set up a field goal with :21 remaining in the first half.
Tonight’s game also gives the Bears’ starting offensive line a chance for redemption after struggling in Seattle. The line failed to protect Grossman from a fierce pass rush and didn’t create many holes for rookie Matt Forte, who rushed for just 17 yards on seven carries.
Kevin Jones is expected to make his debut tonight in the Bears backfield. The veteran running back, who rushed for 1,133 yards as a rookie with the Detroit Lions in 2004, returns to action just eight months after sustaining a torn ACL in the second-to-last game of last season.
Defensively, the Bears will look to build on last weekend’s performance. The unit kept the Seahawks out of the end zone for the first three and a half quarters, returned one of three interceptions for a touchdown and held Seattle to 0 of 7 on third down in the first half after allowing the Chiefs to convert all five of their third-down chances on the first possession of the preseason opener Aug. 7 at Soldier Field.
Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek is expected to make his preseason debut tonight after missing the first two games while recovering from a calf injury he sustained while working out with teammate Tommie Harris before training camp.
Tight end Desmond Clark (knee), defensive end Mark Anderson (thumb), long-snapper Patrick Mannelly (neck) and linebacker Nick Roach (concussion) will not play tonight.
