Now one play away from taking his first regular-season NFL snap, rookie quarterback Rex Grossman has impressed coach Dick Jauron with the right approach as much as with his right arm. “One of the things I really appreciate about Rex is he works on his technique all the time,” Jauron said. “If he’s running the scout team, he’s working on his footwork, his drops, his sets. There are times the progression reads are a lot different, because the defense will want the ball thrown in certain spots . . .and he’ll push the ball into that area. But he throws the ball exceptionally well and works on his techniques, and that’s a big plus.” . . .
Jauron said running back Adrian Peterson definitely will start for the injured Anthony Thomas. …. Wide receiver Marty Booker didn’t practice Thursday. His sprained right ankle will be re-evaluated Friday. If Booker can’t play, David Terrell will start at flanker and “one or both” of rookies Bobby Wade and Justin Gage will be active . . . Linebacker Warrick Holdman was ruled out for Sunday while linebacker Lance Briggs was taken off the injury list. . . . Left tackle Mike Gandy is expected to return to practice Friday. . . . Quarterback Kordell Stewart is not. “He’s a long ways from where we had hoped he would have been, but there’s still a possibility [he’ll play],” Jauron said. …
Now that the Cubs season has ended, Jauron was asked if the euphoria of their success reduced the city’s scrutiny on the Bears’ bad start. “There’s a question I’ve never thought about,” Jauron said. “No, I don’t. I was just disappointed they lost, as Chicago is. I’ve never thought about it from that angle.” Neither had offensive coordinator John Shoop. “We’re 1-4, we’ve got to get this sucker turned around,” Shoop said. “It hasn’t taken any [pressure] off for me.” . . . Week 1 brought Bears left guard Steve Edwards 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young. Sunday, another Hall of Fame hopeful beckons–John Randle of the Seahawks. Randle has 134 career sacks in 14 NFL seasons “I talked to Steve this morning [about that],” Shoop said. “When it’s third down, that John Randle gets cranked up. The guy is fierce.” . . .
Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman questioned the validity of Stewart’s leg injury on Sporting News Radio. “I’d hate to say that a player is not injured but it does seem somewhat mysterious when you can’t really put your finger on what’s wrong with Kordell Stewart’s health and you just say he’s got a swollen leg,” Aikman said. “A lot of players are playing with that. I think they wanted to make a change.”
