Jim Miller did everything a quarterback is supposed to do at practice Wednesday and said he expects to play Sunday against the Packers.
He was not mentioned on the Bears’ official injury report, the clearest sign yet that the Bears also expect him to return to the starting lineup.
Miller’s hip pointer is still sore, he said, but “I felt accurate today and put more zip on the ball. It’s just the nature of the injury that it takes time. But this is Packers week, a big game and we’re trying to distance ourselves from everybody else in the division and everybody else is trying to catch up.”
The injury causes pain when Miller rotates in the throwing motion but has improved daily since he was driven into the Soldier Field turf by a blitzing San Francisco 49ers linebacker.
“For me it’s important to get in there and get the timing down again,” Miller said. “There is a little bit of pain there but you’ve got to work through. I felt good and made all the throws.”
“Jim participated in the whole practice, did all the offensive work, so he should be ready to go,” said coach Dick Jauron. “[He’s] probably a little sore, but by Sunday we feel he should be close to all right, as close as you get this time of year.”
Less healthy is Miller’s offensive line, with tackle Blake Brockermeyer (knee) and guard Chris Villarrial (hip) questionable. Both were held out of practice and subject to further review after some limited practice Thursday.
Defensive tackle Ted Washington also had the day off from practice, as did running back Anthony Thomas.
Honoree: Safety Mike Brown became the third Bear to be selected as an NFC player of the week when he was named the winner of the award for top defensive performance in the conference after his second game-winning interception in as many weeks.
Brown joins linebacker Brian Urlacher (Oct. 7 vs. Atlanta) as a winner on defense; quarterback Shane Matthews won the award on offense (Oct. 28, vs. San Francisco).
Throwbacks: Tackle James Williams has been through several football generations in the Bears-Packers rivalry, including the last couple of years with Packers-hater Mike Ditka. Could the youngest Bears of 2001–Brown, Urlacher and rookies David Terrell and Thomas–have played for Ditka?
“A-Train, definitely. Brown, definitely. Urlacher, definitely. David, maybe,” Williams said, laughing. “David’s just more your 2000 type of guy. He’s your new millennium type of wide receiver. Urlacher, A-Train, Brown: They’re more your throwbacks, the old, `Just give me the ball, let me do my thing and I’ll see you after the game.'”
