Once a staple of the Chicago Bears offense under former offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the screen pass to Matt Forte seems to have run its course.

The Bears running back has only 45 receiving yards over the last four weeks and 18 catches (for just 134 yards) on the year. 

"I think I said earlier, maybe in training camp, I didn't think Matt was going to get the touches that he got last year," QB Jay Cutler said about incorporating Forte more into the passing game. "There's not enough balls to go around.

"I think we want to keep him fresher than he was last year toward the end of the year. That's why we put [Michael Bush] in there, and with the receivers we have, there's not a lot of balls to go around there. So Matt is not going to get the receptions he had last year. I think that is just how it is going to be this year."

Considering Forte has never had fewer than 51 catches or 477 receiving yards in a season, it seems like an awfully cavalier attitude for the offense to be taking to dismiss Forte as a receiver. 

They did try to get him involved on two screens against Carolina last week. The plays went nowhere. He had a season-high five catches -- for 24 yards.

"We probably would like to be a little more successful at them, called a few in the Panthers game, caught the wrong coverage," Cutler said. "You know, it's a feel thing for an offensive coordinator of when to dial it up and when not to. And I think Mike [Tice] is getting better and better."

Injury update: Cutler said his ribs are fine after the Oct. 22 bruising they received at the hands of Detroit's Ndamukong Suh. WR Alshon Jeffery missed practice again and is unlikely to play. TE Matt Spaeth practiced only on a limited basis due to a sore ankle, but coach Lovie Smith said Spaeth would probably return to practice Thursday.

The guy II: Last week Tice had talked about his offensive linemen not wanting to be "the guy" who constantly makes mistakes to foul up blocking schemes or who commits silly penalties. 

Then came Sunday's debacle against Carolina with six first-half sacks allowed.

"We talked a couple weeks ago about 'don’t be the guy,' but we took turns all the way across the board being 'the guys,' " Tice said.

Vandy Man: It's homecoming for Cutler, WR Earl Bennett, and nickel back D.J. Moore when they return to Nashville on Sunday. All played at Vanderbilt. Former Bears OT Chris Williams also had played there.

Never one to lack confidence, Moore thought he should be the one well received at his old stamping grounds.

"I'm the best one that's come out of Vandy, so, just out of us here," he said. "I'm the only one who went to a bowl game."

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.