Sept. 28, 2008

Bears DE Mark Anderson

 Our Bears sources continue to shake their heads over how much of a nonfactor DRE Mark Anderson has become, dating back to last season. “He’s been really invisible,” one team insider said of Anderson, who burst on the scene as a rookie with 12 sacks but had only one sack in his final 10 games of 2007 before missing the last two due to a knee injury. “He’s a physical freak who appears to have benefited from what was an exceptionally good defensive line in his first season.”

 Lions WLB Ernie Sims hasn’t been his dominant self this season, though he’s playing far better than most Detroit defenders. Sources say the reason is a painful ankle injury that has hurt Sims’ mobility and planting but that he should be fine with extra rest over the bye week.

 Don’t count on Vikings FS Madieu Williams (neck) to return to action in the next couple of weeks. Team doctors still haven’t cleared him for action, even though he was supposed to have returned in Week Four. Williams probably will need at least a full week of practice before he could come back and play in a game.

 We hear Packers DT Justin Harrell, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list due to a back injury that prevented him from taking a snap this summer, is progressing nicely and appears to be in the best shape since he’s been a Packer.

 Daily Bears observers tell us first-round OLT Chris Williams, who practiced for the first time Sept. 24 since suffering a herniated disc in his back on the second day of training camp, still has a ways to go but could possibly see action sometime in November.