The Bears’ season took a major detour Thursday that had nothing to do with the four-hour bus trip carrying them from Bourbonnais through the cornfields to this rural western Illinois town.
At the end of the Bears’ joint practice with the St. Louis Rams, Lovie Smith broke the bad news that cornerback and Pro Bowl kick returner Jerry Azumah will undergo surgery Saturday in Pittsburgh to repair a herniated disc in his neck and miss “three or four months,” Smith said. That could mean 12 games of the regular season.
Azumah injured himself last Thursday morning during a non-contact drill when he fell awkwardly on his shoulder.
Initially diagnosed with a “stinger” and cleared to return gradually, Azumah sought a second opinion. A specialist took another MRI from a different angle.
At first Azumah was encouraged enough to resume practicing Wednesday. But further inspection of the tests Thursday detected a problem with the disc and made surgery necessary.
The procedure will be performed at a Pittsburgh hospital.
“I can’t sugarcoat it, we’re going to miss him,” Smith said. “But again, my glass is half-full. I’m expecting him to come back at midseason.”
An outbreak of hamstring and other injuries in the first week of training camp already have hampered the Bears’ development. Now, Azumah’s setback makes Smith’s goal of reaching the playoffs sound overly optimistic given the team’s rugged early schedule and youth.
“It stinks for our whole team, it’s a huge loss,” said linebacker Brian Urlacher–himself sidelined indefinitely with a bad hamstring. “Zoom’s a guy with super enthusiasm, one of our greatest leaders.”
In Azumah’s absence, R.W. McQuarters assumes the starting right cornerback spot for which he had hoped to challenge Azumah. McQuarters has enjoyed a solid camp.
Other news of the day
Reports out of Florida on Thursday indicated the Bears had shown interest in disgruntled Tampa Bay wide receiver Keenan McCardell, but a team source confirmed no contact had been made with the Buccaneers as of Thursday night, and none was expected.
Words to live by
Rams coach Mike Martz called a challenge to Lovie Smith’s training methods “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. I guess all these people that write that must be medical doctors.”
Macomb weather
Thursday’s high was 73. Friday forecast: High of 75 with 62 percent humidity. Saturday’s forecast: High of 76 with 71 percent humidity.
Rex Grossman news
Quarterback Rex Grossman dazzled observers who had not seen him throw before, but Grossman’s most impressive pass of the day might have been an incompletion. It sailed 75 yards in the air with the wind.
Job fight
With McQuarters stepping in for Azumah, the big question becomes who will play nickelback. The Bears likely will put starting strong safety Mike Green in that role on passing downs and bring in Bobby Gray to replace Green. Todd Johnson, who is developing a reputation as a head-hunter, will push Gray. If rookie cornerback Nathan Vasher develops as the Bears hope, he could enter the picture as well at cornerback. Smith will give rookie Bernard Berrian the first shot at replacing Azumah on kickoff returns.
Scouting report on famous bears not in camp
Gummi Bears, DBs
This quartet of candied cornerbacks and safeties can stick to any receiver or tight end–or each other. They’re very coachable as they’re used to getting chewed out.
Fan overreaction meter
A daily gauge of fans’ expectations
Bears out there
Doug Flutie (Chargers) had knee surgery and will miss about two weeks. Phillip Daniels (Redskins) is day-to-day with an abdominal muscle strain. Walt Harris (Redskins) is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Next up
After scrimmages against the Rams on Friday and Saturday, the team has one afternoon practice Sunday.
