BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The Bears offense lost one of its key components Friday night when Cedric Benson was carted off the practice field after hurting his left shoulder.

 

The second-year pro sustained the injury while being hit in rapid succession by Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown after catching a short pass from Rex Grossman during 11-on-11 drills.

 

Benson dropped the ball, went down to one knee, removed his helmet and grabbed his shoulder in pain. Surrounded by concerned teammates, he was treated on the field for about seven minutes before being driven to the locker room with his shoulder wrapped.

 

"Cedric Benson injured his shoulder," coach Lovie Smith said after the practice at Olivet Nazarene's Ward Field. "We'll get X-rays on it. That's about all we know is that."

 

The hits Benson absorbed were consistent with most during a padded practice and weren't overly aggressive or vicious. The injury occurred on such a seemingly ordinary play that even the two defenders who were involved couldn't explain what transpired.

 

"I don't know what happened," Urlacher said. "I just turned around and he was on the ground. That's all I saw."

 

"I really don't know what happened," Brown said. "I think after we all see it on film we'll know exactly what happened. I wish I had more info, but I don't."

 

With a strained hamstring sidelining veteran running back Thomas Jones since the start of training camp, Benson was thriving while practicing with the No. 1 offense.

 

"I would say that he's having an excellent camp like he had an excellent offseason," Smith said. "Hopefully we'll get him back out here before long. He went down tonight, but we'll see exactly how bad the injury is. It was a freak accident. Hopefully it isn't too serious."

 

For the second straight day, Smith declined to confirm a newspaper report that Jones would be out for another 7-10 days. "He's getting treatment every day," Smith said. "I know he's trying to get back as soon as possible, and that's about all I know.

 

"We've said all along that you need two and possibly three good running backs to make it through an entire season. We're just using up our mulligans a little bit early as we see it."

 

Without Benson and Jones, third-stringer Adrian Peterson likely would assume the No. 1 job.

 

"I haven't heard anything," Peterson said. "I'll just continue to do what I do on special teams and if they call upon me to carry the ball a little bit more, then that's what I'm going to do."

 

When Jones and Benson were both injured last season, Peterson rushed for a career-high 120 yards and 1 touchdown on 24 carries in a 17-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

 

"We like Adrian Peterson," Smith said. "Every time we've had to play him he's played well. We feel comfortable with him."

 

In other news Friday, receiver Bernard Berrian exited practice with a hip flexor injury, defensive tackle Ian Scott remained sidelined with a sore knee and receiver Airese Currie and offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf both underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

Yeah, this sucks. I hope he's alright b/c I'm expecting big things from Mr. Benson this year.

Separated shoulder is what I heard. He's done for the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But that would be worst case senario sense it's pure speculation on my part. I saw the video and it just looked like a stinger since they said he was holding his wrist and hand not really the shoulder/numbness and all. The hit really wasn't hard honestly they barely touched him, well Urlacher just kinda pushed him into Brown. They have the video of the Bears practice and that hit on their site FWIW.

More amazing than the Benson hit on that video is that Tim Day caught a pass...I figured he got lost on the way to camp.

SoxAce that beginning of your post stopped my heart! I hope benson is healthy b4 the first preseason game.

 

please don't let it be that bad!

It'd be better if it were Grossman than the 2 running backs.

It'd be better if it were Grossman than the 2 running backs.

 

It's crazy seeing Grossman and Benson, two guys who were never injured at college, and are now potential injury-prone players. Just a crazy game and level.

It's crazy seeing Grossman and Benson, two guys who were never injured at college, and are now potential injury-prone players. Just a crazy game and level.

If this is anywhere as serious as the joke, then you're right, Benson will get that tag. I'll wait till I hear a diagnosis first. But man that sucks if he's out for anything more than a week.

Good news Bears fans;

 

Cedric Benson (shoulder) is reportedly expected to miss at least two weeks of practice.

 

That Benson has been targeted by Bears defenders in practice seems to be the theory of consensus. Saturday morning's X-ray results should provide a better read on the seriousness of Benson's injury.

Not that I am glad this guy got injured but it is about time to stop all this Cedric Benson non-sense and get the best RB back working with the number one offense.

Let's get both Benson and Jones healthy and ready for Green Bay.

That Benson has been targeted by Bears defenders in practice seems to be the theory of consensus.

 

What's the story behind this?

From what I have heard, with Benson not really being in camp this year, and even him admitting that he didnt fit in well with his teammates last season. This year in camp, there have been 4 or 5 different times when the D has popped Benson, alot more than others.

 

All week, the media was reporting that the Bears defense was out to "get" Benson. Thomas Jones is great friends with many of the Bears defensive players, and many of them are upset that Benson was given the starting role. This injury was bound to happen sooner than later with the defense taking all these shots at him.

Some people are going overboard with it... was the defense giving Benson some shots... yes... but they werent trying to hurt him and its not because they "like" TJ. Its because he has to prove himself to get their respect....

sorry but that theory sounds like the biggest crock, well at least the 'they're doing it for tj' standpoint...

 

in other news...x-rays are negative with no timetable for return...

More amazing than the Benson hit on that video is that Tim Day caught a pass...I figured he got lost on the way to camp.

After all that damn work we did to get him in a Beras uni and they're not even giving the guy a shot.

After all that damn work we did to get him in a Beras uni and they're not even giving the guy a shot.

Yeah seriously...wtf...we were pleading for him and now we hear nothing on him

Edited August 5, 200619 yr by WHarris1

Yeah seriously...wtf...we were pleading for him and now we hear nothing on him

 

Tim Day. Who cares?

Tim Day. Who cares?

He's gonna get released.