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Forte has no intention of lightening workload

With his 26 carries (for 117 yards) last week, Matt Forte came within 1 of his career high, but he scoffs at the notion that the workload might wear him down.

“I don't really take into account how many carries or whatever,” said Forte, who has 173 for the season. “If I run 26 carries it's a good work day, really. When you get 20-plus, it's how you really start wearing the defense down.

“If I have a game where I run the ball 36 times, it doesn't make a difference to me. I've had games where I've had 30-something touches in a game between running and catching. So, it's still the same. When you catch the ball you get tackled, too.”

Forte's 32 touches last week were a season high, but he's had games of 25 (twice), 27, 28 and 29. Because of his superb conditioning, Forte rarely gets winded and because he's such an excellent pass catcher (team-best 67 catches), it's a struggle to get him off the field.

“If you come out there with me, you can help me try to drag him off the field,” offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said at his Thursday news conference. “It's very difficult to get him off the field. We've had conversations with him about trying to lighten the load. But when you watch him play, you're waiting for him to get tired so you can take him out, and he doesn't appear tired.”

Big shoes to fill:

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has not had as easy task.

He took over a defense populated with veteran players who were unwaveringly loyal to Lovie Smith, who was fired as head coach in 2012 after a 10-6 season that fell just short of the playoffs.

“There were no issues there, no awkwardness,” Tucker said. “We're just coaching them, and we're playing. I've been in situations before where you go into a new organization, whether it's college or pro, and there are players there that have played for other coaches. That's common.

“So that's just something you work with, and it's a challenge. But you do what you need to do and just move forward the best you can.”

Tucker was asked if Smith provided inspiration for young black coaches when he became the Bears' head coach in 2004.

“I can only speak for myself,” Tucker said. “I really appreciate people that I see as really good coaches, who are first-class guys, who are perceived to do things the right way, and then have success over time regardless of their background or color or race or whatever. He's one of those guys.

“I've known him over the years. This is going back to my time in college. First and foremost, I appreciate what he stands for as a person. Obviously, he's paid his dues as a coach and has done a heck of a job as a coach. Those are all things I have a high level of respect for.”

Getting better:

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall (ankle) and Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and offensive linemen Eben Britton (illness) and Jordan Mills (ribs) were limited in Thursday's practice inside the Walter Payton Center.

Defensive tackle Ego Ferguson (illness) and wide receiver Josh Morgan (shoulder) returned to full practice. Five players did not practice, including defensive ends Jared Allen (not injury related) and Trevor Scott (knee), cornerback Demontre Hurst (knee), linebacker Darryl Sharpton (hamstring) and wide receiver-return specialist Chris Williams.

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