The Bears completed their last practice in Bourbonnais on Friday before moving training camp back to Halas Hall on Monday. How did Kordell Stewart find his Bourbonnais experience? “Very Bourbonnais-ish,” Stewart said, laughing. “It’s been cool, I’m still like a big kid, running around, not in awe so much but trying to get acclimated to everything and feel my way through and be that guy I know I am on the team.” . . .
A fan’s sign read, “Can’t Bear To See You Go . . . Super Bowl Champs 2004.” . . . During 11-on-11 drills inside the 20, Stewart threw a pass to a spot just under the cross bar that only 6-foot-4-inch receiver Justin Gage could have caught. Gage used every bit of his 40-inch vertical jump to sky and come down with the nice catch. . . . Ahmad Merritt keeps working hard and making plays, the latest a diving catch that required Merritt to fully extend his body in the air. . . . Cornerback Jerry Azumah batted away a pass in the end zone that was a good example of how he looks to have improved his footwork and technique of turning for the football . . .
Defensive tackle Keith Traylor returned after a day off Thursday due to an illness. “It was pretty much a good sleep day,” Traylor said. . . . Traylor may get a chance to mix it up with former Bears teammate Blake Brockermeyer, who’s listed as Denver’s starting left tackle. Brockermeyer started for the Bears from 1999-2001. Broncos backup safety Lee Flowers played with Stewart for eight seasons in Pittsburgh. . . .
Saturday marks the exhibition season debut of Broncos backup quarterback Steve Beuerlein and wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. . . . It also represents the Bears’ final game in Champaign after using Memorial Stadium as their home during the renovation of Soldier Field.
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ON THE AIR
Saturday vs. Denver at Champaign, 7:05 p.m., WMAQ-Ch.5, WSNS-Ch.44 (Spanish), WBBM-AM 780
