Rex Grossman improved to 2-0 as a starting quarterback but didn’t want to hazard a guess what his record might have been had he started earlier in the season. “That’s a hypothetical question I don’t want to answer,” the rookie said wisely after Sunday’s victory. . . .
Left tackle Qasim Mitchell left the game midway through the fourth quarter with a broken right leg. Dez White injured his knee on the final catch that set up Paul Edinger’s game-winning field goal but didn’t consider the injury serious. Justin Gage sprained his knee and missed most of the second half. A sprained foot knocked rookie defensive tackle Ian Scott out of action in the first quarter. Backup tight end John Gilmore also was banged up. . . . When Mitchell left the game, left guard Steve Edwards moved over one spot, and Terrence Metcalf came in at left guard. It was the third offensive line position Edwards has played this season. …
Here are the Bears’ first four plays from scrimmage: A 9-yard completion to Gage that Gage fumbled after Jeremiah Trotter drilled him (safety Matt Bowen recovered); a Grossman fumble; a Stanley Pritchett gain of 2; a Grossman interception by cornerback Fred Smoot. “Those were the ugliest [four] plays in the history of football,” Shoop said. …
Smell-o-vision
Bears rookie defensive end Michael Haynes simply was following his instincts on a second-quarter play. With 29 seconds left in the first half, Redskins quarterback Tim Hasselbeck had slipped out of the backfield as the primary target of a reverse pass from Rod Gardner. Haynes was the only Bear to sniff it out, but it wasn’t his responsibility.
“That’s something I learned at Penn State and carried over,” Haynes said. “This week coach [Greg] Blache was like, if you smell something, go with it.” Haynes saw something. “I’m standing looking at the quarterback, and he slowed up, looked at me and was getting ready to take off. Then I turned and ran. I’m like, `Please, DBs, help!”‘
Haynes defended, but Hasselbeck made a diving catch that officials ruled incomplete, even though replays appeared to show him cradling the ball. “I should get a pass defended for that, right?” Haynes kidded. …
The Bears used two unorthodox formations on both sides of the ball to their benefit in the second quarter. The defense used a 4-4-3 alignment, with four linebackers and three defensive backs, on second-and-5 at the Washington 26 and stopped Rock Cartwright for a 1-yard loss. The offense used five wide receivers on third-and-5 on the next series and converted with a 6-yard pass to Bobby Wade . . .
Thomas closes on 1,000
Anthony Thomas needs 37 yards against the Chiefs to reach 1,000 for the season. He has missed three games with injuries. … Strong safety Mike Green missed his fifth game with a groin injury. Cornerback Todd McMillon took Green’s spot in the “dime” defense, with six defensive backs, and made a nice breakup of a pass intended for Gardner on third down in the first quarter. … Defensive tackle Keith Traylor sat out with an injured left knee, allowing Scott to play. … The offensive line treated 100 children from the Chicago Housing Authority to Sunday’s game in a Soldier Field luxury box and a shopping spree at a local toy store. The linemen contributed $25,500, giving each child a gift certificate worth $255. Line coach Bob Wylie initiated the holiday program, which is in its fifth year.
