Another quick pick starts Bears practice
BOURBONNAIS — For the third time since the start of training camp, Jay Cutler began the day’s first 11-on-11 period with an interception.
Zack Bowman picked off Cutler’s pass at the start of red zone session, in front of Sunday’s training-camp record crowd of just more than 15,000.
“I think what we’re going to do tomorrow is we’ll start with the twos and run the ball three times,” coach Marc Trestman joked. “Then we can get on with the regular part of practice.
“(But) I don’t think it’s a concern. It is kind of odd. I don’t know that any of us have ever experienced that. But it’s not a bad thing to fight back from failing on the first play of the game.
“We had that happen (Friday) night, and I think Jay showed he kept his poise. He had great demeanor throughout the game, and he didn’t let it affect him. And I think that’s a good sign; that’s something positive. I thought the guys came back and made it a highly competitive practice.”
Nickel corner Isaiah Frey added another interception late in practice.
Live and learn:This is long snapper Patrick Mannelly#146;s 16th NFL training camp, all with the Bears, but there still are some things that catch the wily veteran off guard #151; like the blindside hit he took in the first quarter of Friday#146;s preseason opener.It left Mannelly with a rib injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the preseason.#147;That#146;s what kind of surprised me,#148; said the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Mannelly. #147;I#146;ve been hit like that four or five or six times. Normally, you just kind of laugh because (you know) everybody is going to laugh at you on tape.#147;So I started laughing, and then when I got up I felt the pain in my ribs and it was, #145;Uh oh, something#146;s wrong.#146;#148;Mannelly plans to return before the regular-season opener. He missed the final six games in 2011 with a torn ACL but before that had played in every game for eight straight seasons and has missed just three other games in 15 years.He said this injury could have been worse and blames himself for the mishap.#147;It was poor field awareness on my part, and I got hit,#148; he said. #147;It#146;s a little sore, but I#146;m all right.#147;It#146;s not as bad as I thought it would be. I#146;ve seen other people with (the same injury), and they can#146;t laugh, can#146;t move, can#146;t sneeze. I haven#146;t sneezed yet, but I can laugh OK.#148;Health beat:Defensive ends Julius Peppers (hamstring) and Corey Wootton (calf) and tight end Kyle Adams (hamstring) all returned to practice Sunday, although Wootton was limited to individual work.Wide receiver Joe Anderson (shoulder), linebacker Patrick Trahan (excused), running back Harvey Unger (rib), linebacker D.J. Williams (hamstring), long snapper Patrick Mannelly (rib), offensive tackle Jonathan Scott (knee), defensive tackle Henry Melton (concussion) and wide receiver Earl Bennett (concussion) all missed practice. Armando Allen (hamstring) left practice early.Bennett, who also had a concussion late last season, has not practiced since Aug. 3.#147;It#146;s been day to day,#148; coach Marc Trestman said of Bennett. #147;He#146;s going through a protocol. He was home this weekend resting. So it is lingering.#148;It#146;s a (long)snap:Brandon Hartson made enough of an impression as a tryout player during the rookie minicamp in June that he was signed to replace injured Patrick Mannelly as the No. 1 long snapper, at least until the veteran returns from a rib injury.#147;I did very well at the minicamp,#148; said the 6-foot-2, 238-pound Hartson, who handled long-snapping duties for four seasons (2009-12) at the University of Houston. #147;I was happy I got a call (Saturday) night.#148;The 38-year-old Mannelly has been amazingly steady and shows no signs of deteriorating skills, but he can#146;t go on forever.#147;I know Mannelly comes back in a couple weeks, but hopefully I show them that I#146;m just too good to pass up and they put me somewhere, keep me on,#148; Hartson said. #147;(Mannelly) is getting a little older, so hopefully if his time ends, I can start (mine).#148;Coming and going:Cornerback Kelvin Hayden (torn hamstring) was placed on injured reserve and first-year safety Cyhl Quarles was waived, while eighth-year veteran safety Derrick Martin was signed.