McManis is making the most of opportunity as Bears nickel corner

All indications are that Sherrick McManis is the Bears' No. 1 slot/nickel corner, but coach John Fox isn't chiseling anything in stone yet.

“Yeah, I think you know ... again, the preseason, I couldn't tell you really a record in 26 years of it,” Fox said. “We haven't picked a starting lineup yet.

“We're looking at a lot of different guys. I think if you watched the (Bengals) game (Saturday) you see that.”

The Northwestern product has 38 special teams tackles over the previous three years, more than any other Bear.

But in his sixth NFL season, the 6-foot-1, 197-pound McManis is ready for a bigger role, and his size is considered an asset, especially against bigger receivers.

“I feel like every year I should try to prepare myself a little bit better than I did the previous year,” he said. “I feel the coaches are giving me the opportunity to go out there and perform and try to earn a job.

“That's what I'm continuing to try to do.”

On the rare occasions in the past when McManis did play defense, he was always aligned outside as a true cornerback. Now he's inside, usually covering a slot receiver.

“You really don't understand it until you actually start playing nickel,” he said. “It definitely is a little different.

“But, at the same time, I'm covering people like I would at corner and just sticking to them.”

Nothing personal:

Considering he had been voted to the Pro Bowl after the 2012 and 2013 seasons before he slumped last season, the release of Tim Jennings on Sunday was a surprise to many.

“We liked (other) guys better,” coach John Fox said. “We evaluate every practice and, unfortunately for him, he was recovering from an off-season (arthroscopic knee) surgery.

“It's not personal. It's not that you don't like guys. It's that you like other people better.”

Back to back:

Offensive left tackle Jermon Bushrod has been bothered off and on by a lingering back problem, but he was at practice Monday.

If the ninth-year veteran is lost for any length of time, it would leave a gaping hole.

“I don't think that anybody out there is 100 percent by the nature of what they do,” coach John Fox said when asked about Bushrod's health.

“But I think he's a done a decent job, and we'll see where that goes moving forward.”

Growing concern:

The list of injured players continues to grow.

On Monday running back Matt Forte was given a day of rest, joining running back Senorise Perry (foot), wide receivers Alshon Jeffery (calf), Eddie Royal (hip) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring), and quarterback Jimmy Clausen (concussion).

The defense also had its share of injuries, including nose tackles Eddie Goldman (concussion) and Jeremiah Ratliff (ankle), linebackers Sam Acho (sick) and Jon Bostic (ankle), along with cornerback Tracy Porter (hamstring).

Clausen, whose injury was not classified as a concussion originally, also missed the 2014 season finale with a concussion suffered in his only start in Game 15.

“During the game (against the Bengals), he was cleared on the on-field prognosis,” coach John Fox said. “And then he had symptoms, so he's been classified with a concussion. He'll go into that protocol.”