Receiver Chris Penn, acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade earlier this week, has so impressed Bears coaches that he may be the team’s third receiver Monday night, behind Ricky Proehl and ahead of Fabien Bownes.
“Chris Penn is a heck of a lot farther along in understanding what we’re trying to do here than we thought when he came in,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “And right now, that’s kind of up for discussion. We’re going to see how it goes the next two days, and Penn could end up playing a lot more. Bownes will play, but so will Penn.”
Return to health: In addition to having Big Cat Williams back in practice, Wannstedt was in good spirits about tight end Keith Jennings, whose status has been upgraded after a negative MRI exam on his ankle.
Jennings professed disbelief after being listed as doubtful on Wednesday and said he would definitely play against the Packers.
“He felt 100 percent better today, so he will practice (Friday),” Wannstedt said. “He would be questionable now, I guess.”
Numbers game: Sure, the Packers are huge favorites Monday night, but if you look hard enough, there are some statistics and trends that actually give the Bears an advantage.
Since 1985, for example, the Bears are 33-13 (.717) in September, which is the best in the NFL over that span. Over the same 12-year period, the Packers are 17-28-1 (.370).
Also, Bears running backs have rushed for 100 yards against the Packers 28 times, the highest total against any team, and the team has a 24-4 record in those games. In addition, three of the five highest rushing totals in Bears history–by Gale Sayers, Walter Payton and Neal Anderson–have come at Lambeau Field.
Do your own thing: Wannstedt conceded it’s not always easy, in a week such as this, for players to focus on what they have to accomplish rather than worrying about the opponent.
“When you do a lot of physical work like we have early in the week, your focus is on what we’re trying to get done,” he said.
“But it’s tough. Playing the big rival, the division champs, the Super Bowl champs, people are talking about it all over the country, so it’s very tough not to hear about it and have it on your mind wherever you go, 24 hours a day.”
Nice place to visit: Discussion Thursday centered on how much and why various players disliked Lambeau Field. Wannstedt did not want to jump in.
“The scoreboard is really the only thing that bothers me,” he said. “We get on the other end of that scoreboard and whatever else happens will be a non-factor in my mind.”
