If Bears coach Dick Jauron all but assures that right offensive tackle Aaron Gibson will start the season opener, should Bears fans worry?
In his most definitive comments on Marc Colombo’s status to date, Jauron sounded resigned Tuesday to the fact that Colombo won’t return from a left knee injury by the end of the exhibition season. Originally, Colombo had hoped to come back in July.
That essentially guarantees that Gibson will start Sept. 7 when the Bears open the season against the 49ers in San Francisco because Colombo will have missed too much practice time to compete for a job.
“I’m not a doctor, but [Colombo] has not practiced at all now with us, in our June camps or in this camp, so I would say it’s unlikely,” Jauron said when asked if Colombo would be ready before the exhibition season ends.
“But the way this thing has progressed, Marc and the doctors could say he’s fine in two weeks, in a week. You know, I don’t know. It just kind of goes day to day. “
Even if Colombo surprises Bears coaches by returning to practice in time to play in the final exhibition game Aug. 27, Gibson has impressed coaches enough to make Colombo earn his way back into the lineup.
“Aaron’s our starting right tackle and did a nice job in the game on Saturday [against the Colts],” Jauron said. “He’s got to keep improving. And then [backup] Steve [Edwards] did a nice job in the second half. So I was happy about that situation.”
Gibson, with 15 NFL starts in four NFL seasons, hasn’t started a game since Oct. 28, 2001. He disputed the notion that his durability should concern the Bears.
“Not in my head, no, it’s not an issue,” said Gibson, who has lost 30 pounds since the Bears signed him off waivers in November.
“Those are things I did in the off-season, conditioning and trying to do the right things. I hope I’m showing the coaches the right stuff. I felt real comfortable with the rest of the guys in there, and I hope I can continue to do so.”
