My NFL Forums | NFL Forums & Blogs

Jay Cutler didn't attempt a pass, and the Bears' first-team offense did the best thing possible Thursday night at Soldier Field: It got out of the game against the Cleveland Browns without suffering an injury. It's unfortunate the same can't be said for running back Kevin Jones, who's supposed to play a complementary role to Matt Forte this season.

Jones was carted off the field in the first quarter with an injury to his left ankle, the most notable thing that happened in the Bears' 26-23 victory. Final cuts must be made by 5 p.m. Saturday, then the Bears (3-1) will begin preparations for the Sept. 13 season opener against Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Coach Lovie Smith said the injury will be evaluated in the next few days, but getting a ride to the locker room is never a good sign.

''It's a always good to get to the end of the preseason after you've gotten a lot of good work done,'' Smith said. ''We know a lot more about our team now. Everything we have done so far has been to prepare ourselves for this big one coming up against our rivals up north.''

The Bears re-signed Jones in March to a two-year, $3.5 million contract, and the stated goal has been to use him a lot to take a load off Forte, who was on the field for 84 percent of the Bears' offensive plays last season, the highest figure of any back in the league. Jones' injury bolsters Adrian Peterson's position for a roster spot.

Although the Browns didn't use Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, their top two passers who are in the midst of a confusing derby, the Bears got a boost for their injury-plagued secondary as Zack Bowman made his first preseason appearance and intercepted Brett Ratliff on the first play from scrimmage. That ended the night for the starting defense.

''They were going to get one series, no matter how it ended,'' Smith said. ''I was looking for some of the players trying to make the team to step up and show that they belonged.''

It's hard to say if that happened. After Cutler handed off six times to Jones, he went to the sideline to grab a ballcap.

''I didn't even bother,'' Cutler said when asked if he threw any passes in pregame. ''We've got to finalize the roster and get ready to go. We've got a lot of time to prepare [for Green Bay], which is good.''

In less than 4½ quarters of preseason action, he led the offense to 37 points and completed 28 of 44 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He looks at home in the system.

Caleb Hanie took over, and there were some uneven performances. Rookie wide receiver Johnny Knox stepped up with a 43-yard reception and added a 50-yard kickoff return and 38-yard punt return. Tight end Michael Gaines hauled in a wide-open 25-yard touchdown pass from Hanie, and Brandon Rideau broke some tackles en route to the end zone on an 18-yard pass from Brett Basanez, who was 10-for-13 for 144 yards. Juaquin Iglesias made five catches for 72 yards.

The rest of the Bears' scoring came from four Robbie Gould field goals. Gould finished the preseason 9-for-9 with six coming from 40 yards or more.

On defense, tackle Marcus Harrison had a strong first half with five tackles and a sack. Fellow tackle Matt Toeaina had a sack, and end Ervin Baldwin added two. New cornerback Rod Hood got a lot of action but gave up some completions. Rookie cornerback D.J. Moore broke up a couple of passes late but gave up a big pass early and muffed a punt.

That's what you get in the fourth preseason game, a big mixed bag. What you hope to do is avoid injuries, and the Bears didn't do that.

BY BRAD BIGGS

__________________