Quarterback Jim Miller will start Friday for the Bears against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but backup Chris Chandler will play some portion of the first half with the No. 1 offense, coach Dick Jauron said Wednesday.
Miller also will start the third quarter. At some point after that, Henry Burris and Ken Mastrole will resume their competition for the No. 3 job.
Chandler will get his first game time with the No. 1 offense, which “will just give him more playing time and a better opportunity to succeed,” Jauron said.
Mastrole took extra snaps in practice for the second day in a row, the best indication yet that he will get more playing time than he did when he engineered the game-winning drive Friday against St. Louis. Jauron did not rule out adding Burris to the practice squad because he can play quarterback and be a position player running upcoming opponents’ plays against the Bears’ defense.
Special player: Larry Whigham hopes Friday to show Bears coaches that he should be considered more than just a special-teams player.
Whigham has experience at free safety, which is where Mike Brown will start when he returns from his fractured right hand for the regular-season opener. Michael Green started at free safety for the first two exhibition games, but the coaches want him to get some time at his regular-season position of strong safety. Rookie Bobby Gray started the first two exhibition games at strong safety.
Whigham, 30, started four games at safety in 2000 with the New England Patriots and only one other game in his eight NFL seasons.
“I want to make the coaches’ decision a little harder,” Whigham said. “I want to be a starter. I’ve had success on special teams and that’s a big part of the game. But Bobby Gray is smashing people right now and Mike Green is playing well so we’ll just have to find out.”
Kicked out: The Bears waived former Illinois punter Steve Fitts. He sprained his right knee on a blocked punt against Denver in the exhibition opener and was unable to punt the last two weeks. Daniel Pope was brought in and kicked four times against St. Louis for a 50.3-yard average. Fitts averaged 40.5 yards on his four punts against Denver.
Route running: After traffic problems at the Aug. 10 exhibition opener against Denver, the Bears are suggesting alternative routes to Friday’s game. Drivers from Chicago can exit Interstate 57 at I-74, take 74 east to Lincoln, then Lincoln south to the stadium area. Another route is I-57 south past University to Monticello Road, then Monticello east to Route 45. Turn north (left) at 45 to the stadium parking area.
