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Do the names Cameron Merideth, Josh Bellamy or Rashad Lawrence strike any fear into NFL defensive backs?
How about Levi Norwood, John Chiles or A.J. Cruz?
No?
OK, then how about Jeremy Kelley or Ify Umudo?
With the Chicago Bears holding wide receiver Eddie Royal out of today's practice with a hip injury, the eight Bears mentioned above are the only healthy receivers available to offensive coordinator Adam Gase as they prepare for Saturday's "big" preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Head coach John Fox said that Royal's injury, "in my mind is day to day," but Alshon Jeffery's calf injury was called day to day too, and we all know how that's going.
Both wide outs Jeffery and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) remain sidelined, but left tackle Jermon Bushrod and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee returned to practice. Bushrod was splitting time with Charles Leno Jr. at left tackle today, as a way to both ease Jermon back into it and to get Leno reps.
Leno did struggle against the Colts at right tackle, but the reps with the ones were a valuable teaching tool as he learns both tackle positions. John Fox spoke with the Chicago Sun Times,
"If you asked them, they'd prefer to be on one side, just like outside linebackers, just like corners, just like any other position," coach John Fox said Wednesday after practice at Halas Hall. "There's some cross training there assignment-wise.
"The verbiage is similar, but technique-wise, it's just different. Your sets are different, your post foot different, things that technically they have to do.
"All-in-all, I think it's good work (other than) all the sudden, throw him on the side and say ‘have at it' — and they're in the middle of a game."
Safety Ryan Mundy was also held out of practice again today with a hip injury and tight end Chris Pantale remains out with an illness.
Now a few quick tweets from today's practice and post-practice.
Saw #Bears LB Shea McClellin with 2 interceptions of Jimmy Clausen in team drills today.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 26, 2015
#Bears coach John Fox on WR injuries -- Jeffery (calf), Royal (hip), Wilson (hamstring): "It doesn't appear real long-term with anybody."
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 26, 2015
JC6 on maybe not having Bears' top 4 WRs vs CIN: "It's a great opportunity for these guys & it's given me an opportunity to work with them."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) August 26, 2015
And FYI, JC6 is Jay Cutler.
Jay Cutler joked about Martellus Bennett's Chicago Mag interview, said he read the comments but didn't see pics of his basement
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 26, 2015
#Bears QB Jay Cutler on Martellus Bennett's comments about him: "Marty, he’s going to be an opinionated guy. It’s just kind of who he is."
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 26, 2015
Cutler on Martellus Bennett's leadership comments: "I talked to Marty today. I’ve got a good rapport with Marty, no matter what he says."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) August 26, 2015
In case you missed the Martellus Bennett / Jay Cutler stuff, you can catch up right here.