Wearing extra padding to protect his bruised ribs, running back Thomas Jones returned to the practice field Wednesday and, as expected, said he would play Sunday against the Panthers.
“I feel a lot better than I did last week,” Jones said. “I feel like I can move. It’s definitely not sore when you touch it. It’s a little uncomfortable, but it’s going to be like that. So I have to get used to it.”
The Bears’ leading rusher, Jones sat out last Sunday against San Francisco. Earlier this season, he played through a sprained knee injury that he was told would sideline him three weeks.
But even Jones admitted that last Sunday’s rest helped. Adrian Peterson rushed for 120 yards and Cedric Benson added 50 before leaving with his own knee injury in Jones’ absence.
“I take a pounding and reinjuring it wouldn’t have made much sense,” Jones said. “We have a long stretch ahead. I want to be as comfortable as I can for the next seven games.
“Sitting out was a good move.”
Jones added that he isn’t worried about taking a hit come Sunday.
Returner review
Coach Lovie Smith left no doubt Bobby Wade will continue returning punts after losing three fumbles against San Francisco.
“He misjudged one ball,” Smith said. “The other problems he had were with ball security.”
Wade leads the NFC and is second in the NFL with a 10.9-yard average per return. But he leads all non-quarterbacks with eight fumbles, four of which the Bears have lost.
“For me personally, it was just about focus and going back to the fundamentals, squeezing the ball high and tight and going about my everyday work.” Wade said after practice.
Receiver review
Rookie wide receiver Airese Currie returned to practice and, according to Smith, showed no effects from his strained hamstring.
The Bears are contemplating activating him for Sunday’s game.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Currie said.
Bernard Berrian was upgraded to doubtful on the injury report and ran on the scout team while wearing a soft cast on his surgically repaired right thumb. Berrian still can’t catch passes but is rehabilitating.
Extra points
Nathan Vasher (illness), Olin Kreutz (elbow) and Ruben Brown (chest) sat out practice but are listed as probable on the injury report. Israel Idonije, a special-teams contributor, is questionable with a shoulder injury. Safety Todd Johnson returned to practice and said he would play Sunday. . . . Apparently, last Sunday’s winds were enough. The Bears practiced indoors at the Walter Payton Center. . . . Vasher’s NFL-record 108-yard touchdown off a missed field goal earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Kicker Robbie Gould won last week. . . . Gould, punter Brad Maynard and long snapper Patrick Mannelly postponed their weekly work at Soldier Field until Thursday because of the weather. . . . Kreutz and linebacker Brian Urlacher are the leading Pro Bowl online vote-getters at their positions, according to tallies of NFL.com.
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jmullin@tribune.com
