Nobody wants to go so far as to circle a date on the calendar, but it would not be surprising to see Marc Colombo return to the practice field this month to compete for a spot at left tackle.
Indications from several people within the Bears organization say Colombo continues to make significant progress rehabilitating a left kneecap that sustained nerve damage and has kept him off the field since Nov. 18, 2002. One best-case scenario has Colombo resuming practice within the next few weeks and possibly seeing action in an exhibition game.
After 21 months of grueling rehabilitation, Colombo understandably has grown weary of discussing the possibility of a comeback publicly, and the Bears recognize the delicate nature of projecting the return of a player who has missed so much time due to injury.
After practice Wednesday, coach Lovie Smith stopped short of saying he expected Colombo back soon but acknowledged the 6-foot-8-inch, 325-pounder eventually could be an alternative at left tackle.
“Marc’s a first-round draft choice and we see him eventually playing for us,” Smith said. “He’s worked harder than anybody I’ve ever seen to come back. I hope that’s the case that he gets into the mix. We know John [Tait] is our right tackle and [Qasim Mitchell] gets first shot at the other position. If `Q’ continues to play well, someone has to take it from him. If not, then you have to look at other options, and that option could be Marc Colombo if he’s back, among other guys.”
Extra points
As satisfying as it would be, Colombo’s return also could paint the Bears into a tricky corner. He currently is on the physically unable to perform list and would be ineligible to return to it once he begins practice. That means once Colombo is activated, the Bears would have to feel confident he would make the 53-man roster at the team’s deepest position or risk having to cut a former first-round draft pick. . . .
Some concern has begun to mount over Tait’s nagging groin injury that has limited him to one practice this week and will keep him out of Thursday’s exhibition opener at St. Louis, but Smith said he isn’t worried. “It hasn’t given him any more trouble than it did initially,” he said. . . .
The decision to rest left guard Rex Tucker was more clear-cut: Tucker has missed 27 of the past 32 games with leg injuries and the Edwards Jones Dome has artificial turf. The injury decisions mean Steve Edwards will start at right tackle and Mike Gandy at left guard. … Defensive tackle Alfonso Boone (sore knee) and cornerback Todd McMillon (abdominal strain) returned to practice Wednesday and expect to play against the Rams.
