Chicago Bears S Chris Conte plans to be ready for the regular-season opener despite the shoulder injury he suffered against Washington on Saturday that will keep him out of this week's game.
Conte missed Tuesday practice because of a shoulder that popped out of place on his tackle of Redskins RB Evan Roystera.
"I just hit him and the shoulder came out of place, and then I got it back in there and it was fine after that," he said.
Calling it a "day-to-day thing," Conte said he hasn't been given a set day to return from doctors.
"It's not a big deal," he said. "I don't plan on missing any regular-season games but it's just that preseason was going well and you want to keep on getting better and playing in the preseason. But it doesn't look like that's going to happen."
Familar scene: The injuries to Conte (shoulder) and Brandon Hardin (neck) that have depleted the safety corps haven't fazed starting S Major Wright because he's dealt with injuries during preseason. "I dealt with it for two years," Wright said, referring to several minor injuries that cost him practice time. "It’s kind of something that you’ve just got to deal with, put it in your past and just build on whatever you’ve got going on. I learned that."
Flexed out: The hip-flexor injury suffered by P Adam Podlesh on Washington's 91-yard punt return TD has forced Ryan Quigley to handle punting chores. Whether the Bears would keep the undrafted rookie free agent out of Boston College in that role into the regular season if Podlesh remains sidelined is uncertain.
Dual linebackership: Nick Roach will be moving back to strong side linebacker in the regular season after his stint in the middle as Brian Urlacher's replacement. But he's not going to be rusty on the strong side when he returns because defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli made certain he took some snaps at both positions last week.
Special guy: Special teams coordinator Dave Toub plans a load of work for WR Eric Weems. "He is going to be a four-phase (Special teams) player," Toub said. Weems will be a starting gunner and play on kick return either as the return man or the off-returner. He'll be on punt and kick coverage, and will get time on four- or five-receiver sets on offense.
Backup trouble: It's rare when the Bears get beat for a long special teams play. So it was surprising when they allowed a 91-yard punt return for a TD last week. Toub said the second team punt coverage unit was on the field then. "About five guys made mistakes on that one play," Toub said. "When you have that many breakdowns, you’re going to get a touchdown run on you."
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.
