Fangio 'disappointed' to lose Ratliff

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was in San Francisco with the 49ers the past four years, so he didn't experience the volatility that led to nose tackle Jeremiah Ratliff's release last week.

Ratliff's steady performance on the field could be missed, but head coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace both felt the team would be better off without Ratliff.

"I'm disappointed," Fangio said. "Any time you lose a good player, you're disappointed. Disappointed for him and disappointed for us.

"But I think John and Ryan have said everything about that, and I don't want to go into too many of the details. But, yes, we are disappointed to lose him."

On Oct. 17, second-year defensive lineman Ego Ferguson was lost with a season-ending knee injury, and the Bears have scrambled to sign replacements.

Veteran Ziggy Hood was signed the same day Ratliff was cut loose, and Bruce Gaston was added the same day Ferguson went on injured reserve.

Mitch Unrein, who spent the previous four years playing for Fox in Denver, was signed on Sept. 25 and played in the past four games.

"We've brought in a few new guys (even) before Ziggy," Fangio said. "We're going to figure it out and get our five best up for the game by Sunday."

If the Bears open with three linemen, rookie Eddie Goldman is expected to be at nose tackle, flanked by ends Jarvis Jenkins and Will Sutton.

Let it rain:

The slightest chance of the incessant light rain that dampened the Halas Hall practice fields Wednesday would have sent Marc Trestman's teams indoors to the Walter Payton Center.

But John Fox's team played through the elements, and the coach downplayed injury concerns in the slippery conditions.

"Any time you play football it's a risk," Fox said. "It's that kind of game. Those are conditions we might see Sunday.

"It's not in the report this early, but I've been around here long enough to know that can change quickly.

"A lot of it's practicing (with) wet footballs, center-quarterback exchanges, passing the ball. Sometimes I think that outweighs the risk concerns."

Time off well spent:

John Fox's teams have won their last seven games following the bye week and are 10-3 all time.

"You guys keep track of that better than I do," Fox said. "I've always been of the thought it's kind of who, when and where you play rather than the timing."

The Broncos were 4-0 after a bye, and the Panthers won their final three after the off week under Fox.

"It's a time to rejuvenate, reflect, recharge, kind of reassess," Fox said. "I like where we are right now, and we get to prove that over the next 10 games."

Injury report:

Linebacker Shea McClellin (knee) and defensive lineman Bruce Gaston (illness) did not practice.

Offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (shoulder), and guards Matt Slauson (knee/shoulder) and Patrick Omameh (ankle), safety Antrel Rolle (ankle) and center Hroniss Grasu (neck) were limited.

For Minnesota, running back Adrian Peterson (hip/finger/ankle), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (knee/ankle) and wide receiver Jarius Wright (concussion) did not practice.

Luck runs out:

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio considered himself a good-luck charm for the Cubs based on his past baseball experiences.

The San Francisco Giants won three World Series titles while Fangio was the 49ers' defensive coordinator, and the Astros went to their only World Series when Fangio was the Houston Texans defensive coordinator.

So what happened to the Cubs, Vic?

"I wasn't counting on termites getting into their bat racks," he said. "The bats just disappeared."