Aug. 14, 2008

Should first-round OLT Chris Williams be considered a nonfactor this coming season after suffering a herniated lumbar disc that is expected to keep him on the shelf for at least the next three months? “It really depends on how the team is doing,” a veteran team insider told PFW. “The Bears are optimistic that he could be back practicing by midseason, but if they’re really struggling and going nowhere at the halfway point, they very well could decide to keep him off the field all season.” We hear it’s also quite possible that OLG Terrence Metcalf, who is currently recuperating from arthroscopic knee surgery, might also have a hard time getting back on the field — but for different reasons. “He should be back in about two weeks,” the insider said, “but if either Josh Beekman or Anthony Oakley do well enough at left guard while he’s still out, it wouldn’t be a shock if they just let Metcalf go, considering how unimpressive he’s been in his time with the team.” By all accounts, Beekman played pretty well in his first full-scale action at left guard as the starter in the preseason opener vs. Kansas City. As for the rumors that the team might be interested in re-signing former Bears O-linemen Fred Miller and Ruben Brown, we hear that’s a long shot. “If they were really interested in either one of them, they would have been here by now,” the insider said.