*** Despite a rough start, the 2007 Draft Class is starting to show signs of life.
Greg Olsen has emerged as a top receiving threat, Garrett Wolfe has developed into a force on special teams, Josh Beekman has established himself as a key starter, and Kevin Payne and Corey Graham have blossomed into playmakers in the secondary.
*** Brandon Lloyd practices, but doesn't expect to start. Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are still questionable.
*** Hunter Hillenmeyer had surgery on his hand and isn't expected to play. Nick Roach is again practicing and Danieal Manning is expected to be ready.
*** Bears fighting urge to look past the Lions to the Titans.
At 4-3 and having surrendered 815 yards in their last two games, the Bears are in position to overlook no one, no matter how feeble the opponent might appear. The Lions, after all, lost only 12-10 three weeks ago at Minnesota and were respectable in defeat at Houston (28-21) and Sunday against Washington (25-17).
*** William Perry fights illness.
Perry, 45, remains good-natured despite suffering the sometimes life-threatening effects of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which affects the peripheral nervous system and causes progressive weakness. He was hospitalized for five months and is using a wheelchair as he rehabilitates.