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Mariani hopes for many happy returns

Talk about being thrown into the fire.

Marc Mariani wasn't even on the Bears' roster until Tuesday, but he'll be returning punts and kickoffs Sunday against the Buccaneers because Chris Williams has already ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Mariani is thrilled to have the opportunity, despite the minimal preparation time.

"It's what I love to do," he said. "I feel like standing under punts is the greatest feeling in the world, so I enjoy that. I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't a little nervous, but just to have those game-day butterflies again is a beautiful feeling. I've had way too many Sundays on the couch this year, so I'm ready to go."

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder was a seventh-round pick of the Titans in 2010, but he hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2011. He went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie on the strength of his 12.2-yard punt-return average that included an 87-yard TD and a 25.5-yard kickoff-return average that included a 97-yard TD. But Mariani missed the 2012 season with a compound fracture in his lower left leg and the 2013 season with a shoulder injury.

Since being waived by the Titans in August, Mariani has been, "Just working my (butt) off," he said. "I was hoping the call would come, and I was preparing for it every week. I knew that it would happen fast, and it's happened real fast, but I knew that I had to be ready when my number was called."

Mariani has never caught kicks in Soldier Field, which is expected to be wet and windy Sunday, but he's had experience playing in inclement conditions.

"I've returned kicks in some very poor conditions from playing at the University of Montana," he said. "I'm no stranger to the the cold or the outdoors or the wind or the rain or anything like that. From what I've been told, once the ball goes up, it's whatever."

Shuffling crew:

If, as expected, right tackle Jordan Mills (ribs) is not well enough to return to the lineup Sunday, the Bears could start the same five up front in back-to-back games for the first time since Week 4. They have already used seven different O-line combinations through 1o games.

"It's definitely a challenge when you change the offensive line," offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said. "But we make a big deal of not making it an excuse. It's the same skill no matter what position you're playing on the offensive line. We do things over and over so we feel like it should be interchangeable.

"But, when you're working with guys, you want to get a feel for the guy next to you. It's been a big challenge all year, but we feel like the guys, for the most part, have handled it well, and hopefully we won't have to make a bunch of changes as it keeps going."

It remains to be seen if Mills will be reinstated once he is healthy, but that could allow Michael Ola to move from right tackle to left guard, where Brian de la Puente started last week for the first time after starting Games 2-5 at center when Roberto Garza was out with a sprained ankle.

Injury update:

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall (ankle), Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and Josh Morgan (shoulder) are all probable, as is defensive tackle Ego Ferguson (illness). All practiced in full Friday, except for Marshall, who was limited.

Offensive tackle Jordan Mills (ribs), cornerback Demontre Hurst (knee) and guard Eben Britton (illness) were limited and are questionable. In addition to Chris Williams, linebacker Darryl Sharpton (hamstring) and defensive end Trevor Scott (knee) are out.

Three Bucs starters are questionable: linebacker Lavonte David (hamstring), cornerback Alterraun Verner (hamstring) and running back Doug Martin (ankle). Verner and Martin were limited Friday and David did not practice.

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