Oct. 27: Back to Work

BACK TO WORK
Technically the Bears do not have to comment on injured players missing practice on Monday, but it appeared cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher were out. Ditto linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and receiver Marty Booker. Every Bear made it back to Halas Hall after a three-day break. Optimism reigns for the first place Bears, who are getting quizzed about the threat of overlooking a winless Lions team Sunday at Soldier Field.

"We've got to come ready to play", said Bears defensive end Alex Brown. "If we're not ready to play, we won't win. We've got to understand that there going to be hungry. We've got to be ready to go."

Detroit had the ball down eight late in the fourth quarter before losing to Washington Sunday. However, the Lions looked better than they did when the Bears whipped them 34-to-7 in week five.  Offensively, they are now running through receiver Calvin Johnson. Veteran Roy Williams became a distraction on a bad team and was traded to Dallas at the league deadline. His absence appears to have relieved some pressure on young quarterback Dan Orlovsky.

BRANDON LLOYD COMING BACK?
It appears veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd is close to returning from a sprained left knee.  Before his injury, Lloyd caught 15 of Kyle Orton's throws for a team leading 16.6 yards-per-catch average, which still leads the team(shared with Desmond Clark).

BROWN ON BROWN
Few players give the unvarnished truth about football like veteran safety Mike Brown. When asked about his play this season, Brown said he's disappointed.

"I'm not pleased with the way that I've played," Brown said.  I've analyzed how I've played so far and there are things that I know I can do better. Now, I'm working on those things. I'm not going to promise that they're going to get better. I can't promise that.  But I'm going to go out there and work hard and try to correct some of the things that I'm doing wrong out there."

Brown thinks he needs to play with more aggressiveness and will concentrate on bringing back some of his nasty football attitude.