Injured middle linebacker Brian Urlacher practiced with the Chicago Bears for the first time in three weeks but was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s critical game against Detroit.
Urlacher saw limited duty in Friday’s practice. He is trying to come back from a hamstring strain on Dec. 2 that forced him to miss the past three games.
The Bears (9-6) need a victory Sunday to keep their wild-card playoff hopes alive.
“I was encouraged that he was finally able to get on the practice field,” coach Lovie Smith said, according to ESPNChicago.com. “It’s not like we had a full-padded practice today, though, but he was able to move around which we thought he would be able to do. He’s making the normal progress we had hoped he would make, he has made.”
Smith didn’t indicate when a decision might be made on Urlacher’s status for Sunday.
“Brian doesn’t have to necessarily practice a full practice before we would play him, but we are not to that point,” Smith said. “Just going to look at how he moved around and see how he feels after today.
“If he was playing, of course I wouldn’t tell you right now. That’s kind of where we are with it.”
Safety Chris Conte (hamstring), running back Armando Allen (knee) and linebacker Blake Costanzo (calf) sat out Friday’s practice. Conte and Costanzo were listed as out on the injury report and Allen as questionable.
Running back Matt Forte (ankle) continued to say that he will play Sunday, according to ESPNChicago.com. He’s listed as probable.