Tight ends Miller and Scruggs back at Bears practice
The Bears' banged-up tight position got healthier when starter Zach Miller (concussion) and Greg Scruggs (bruised lung) both returned to practice Saturday, although both were limited.
Miller was hurt during a training camp practice on July 31 after catching a shovel pass on a goalline play.
"I was just trying to just get through it and maybe it would clear up," said Miller, who talked after practice the day he was injured. "But it didn't."
Miller caught passes in individual work but did not participate in any 11-on-11 action. As long as there are no setbacks, the seventh-year veteran will continue to up his participation, but it's doubtful he will play in Thursday's second preseason game.
"That's the biggest part - conditioning," Miller said of his return. "I'm just easing back into it. I haven't run in 10, 11 days. I've been doing stuff off the field, but you can't replicate football shape so I'll ease into it as we move forward, and as I start feeling better with that stuff we'll increase it each day."
Miller has a career year in 2015, when he caught 34 passes for 439 yards and 5 touchdowns, all career bests. He missed the previous three seasons with a variety of injuries.
Getting an opportunity:
In Zach Miller's absence, Tony Moeaki started in Thursday night's preseason opener, but was not targeted by quarterback Jay Cutler. In Saturday afternoon's practice at Halas Hall Moeaki made a leaping catch between safeties Harold Jones-Quartey and Adrian Amos.
"I'm just trying to bring experience and toughness; and being versatile," the seventh-year veteran out of Iowa and Wheaton-Warrenville South said. "Just trying to show them I can be versatile and help this team."
Moeaki is in a close battle with several others for playing time behind Miller.
"Tony made some great plays (Saturday)," Miller said. "There weren't a ton of opportunities in the game but for those 10-12 days, they (all) did well and stepped in and made plays. We got a good group of guys, working hard."
More practice:
The Bears have added a Wednesday practice to their Monday and Tuesday workouts with the New England Patriots in Foxborough leading up to their Thursday night preseason game at Gillette Stadium.
"Typically we do a day-before-the-game prep anyways," coach John Fox said. "It will be no pads. Rather than our guys trying to look like them (in a walk-through), we'll just let them look like them and get the same practice."
Shuffling up front:
Offensive linemen Khaled Holmes and Shelley Smith were signed Saturday, while offensive linemen Dan Buchholz and Donovan Williams were waived.
Holmes spent three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2013-15) and appearing in 17 games with nine starts, all at center. He was selected by the Colts in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2013 draft out of USC.
With center Hroniss Grasu out, the Bears will continue to get rookie guard Cody Whitehair some snaps at center, even with the addition of Holmes.
"We're still going to have guys working at multiple spots depending on what groups they're working with," coach John Fox said. "But (Holmes) does have flexibility at both guard and center." Smith enters his seventh season and has played in 36 games, including 11 starts with the St. Louis Rams (2012-13) and Miami Dolphins (2014). He also spent time with the Denver Broncos (2015) without appearing in a game and spent the majority of the 2016 off-season with the Dolphins. The Colorado State was a sixth-round draft pick (187th overall) with the Houston Texans.
Injury report:
Running back Ka'Deem Carey, who was injured in the preseason opener, remained in the concussion protocol, as did wide receiver Eddie Royal.
Running back Senorise Perry (hamstring) did not participate nor did defensive end Cornelius Washington (ankle, knee) or safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (neck/concussion protocol). Linebacker Roy Robertson-Harris (illness) returned to practice.
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