Neal Anderson ran for the first time since injuring his hamstring during last week`s Redskins game, and was later pronounced fit for action by coach Mike Ditka.
”As far as running the plays we ran and the routes we ran, Neal ran very well,” said Ditka. ”I don`t know what would happen if he had to run 60 yards with the ball. That might bother him.”
Ditka said Anderson would play Thursday night against Green Bay, but added: ”I don`t know if he`ll go the whole game.”
Anderson, who received acupuncture treatment on his hamstring, downplayed the injury before Monday`s practice, saying it was not as severe as the one that has sidelined Brad Muster most of the season.
”Each one is different,” said Anderson. ”Some people pop theirs and it`s like they got shot. They can`t move at all. Mine didn`t seem so severe. It was just tight.”
Ditka said Richard Dent (ankle), Keith Van Horne (elbow) and Muster would play Thursday. Muster looked like he was finally at 100 percent, Ditka added. – Longtime Bears antagonist Tim Harris is in San Francisco now, and Ditka thinks the Packers are the better for it.
”I think their defense is probably playing better without him,” said Ditka, ”because they`re not having to cater to him.”
Ditka lauded Harris` replacement at left inside linebacker, Bryce Paup, who has 7 1/2 sacks.
”I don`t think they miss (Harris) one bit,” said Ditka. ”That`s probably the best thing they`ve ever done.”
– If anyone can relate to Cap Boso`s sudden career-ending injury, it`s wide receiver Tom Waddle. Though Waddle has never incurred an injury as serious as Boso`s, he knows all too well that your livelihood can be taken away in the blink of an eye.
”That`s something I`ve been aware of ever since I`ve been here,” said Waddle, who has been cut three times in three years. ”Your first day out there, or the next day or the following day may be your last. It`s a horrible thing.”
