The Bears’ run of misfortune in the secondary continued in Sunday’s win as rookie defensive back Zackary Bowman, whose interception sealed the 48-41 win over the Vikings, suffered a biceps injury that will require surgery and could end his season after just one game.
Bowman, who also scored his first NFL points by recovering a muffed punt in the end zone, will undergo surgery before the Bears’ Nov. 2 game against the Detroit Lions.
The rookie put on an impromptu clinic in toughness by convincing the coaching staff he could go back in after a head injury to cornerback Corey Graham and making the Bears’ fourth interception of the game.
“To be able to play through that, definitely playing with pain and close to an injury, that said a lot for him on his first game,” coach Lovie Smith said.
Good answer: Receiver/returner Devin Hester said the bruised left quad that sidelined him for Sunday’s second half was caused by a helmet hit to his thigh.
He expects to be able to return for the Lions game with the help of the week off.
“I’m feeling a lot better than I was [Sunday],” Hester said.
Because he has never had this particular injury, Hester wasn’t sure if or how it might affect his speed.
When asked if anything ever slowed him down, Hester paused and said with a laugh, “Next question.”
Hustlers: Tight end Desmond Clark had the ball stripped just short of the goal line after a 35-yard catch in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Rashied Davis was trailing the play and fell on the ball in the end zone.
“We work on that on practice,” Davis deadpanned. “He left it for me and I take it in. That was how we drew it up.”
Clark blew Davis’ cover story.
“The ball landed and I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God,'” he said. “And then Rashied picked it up and I was saying, ‘OK, thank you, God.’ He tried to give me the ball, but I told him that was his ball for a hustle play.”
In another hustle play Sunday, a punt bounced off the Vikings’ Charles Gordon and Bowman then recovered the ball in the end zone.
The reason the ball was available was because rookie linebacker Joey LaRocque knocked Gordon off the ball at the goal line.
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jmullin@tribune.com
