Bears' Barkley expects to be better prepared against Titans

If, as expected, Bears backup quarterback Matt Barkley gets his first NFL start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, he'll be much better prepared than in his Bears debut Oct. 20.

It's not that Barkley doesn't prepare every week as if he were the starter. But when he was thrown into the fray against the Packers at Lambeau Field five weeks ago, he had gotten the usual dearth of practice snaps given to the backup - almost none. This time around the four-year veteran will have had the benefit of a full week of practices with the first team.

"It's a huge advantage," coach John Fox said. "When you go into the game as a backup, you're one play away from being the starter. Guys gotta be ready. They're pros.

"The issue is you didn't have all the reps as the starter all week." Barkley wasn't signed by the Bears until Sept. 5, two days after he was waived by the Arizona Cardinals. He's been playing catch-up trying to learn the playbook since then, and the additional five weeks helps.

Barkley completed 6 of 15 passes for 81 yards versus the Packers with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions for an 18.3 passer rating.

"I'd like to say (I'm) light years ahead; definitely more prepared," Barkley said. "Plays are coming out of my mouth just like normal sentences and I'm seeing everything a lot clearer. I've definitely made a lot of strides since then."

Fox expects more this time out from Barkley, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round in 2013 out of USC, where he was 27-9 as a starter. He played in three games as a rookie (30-for-49, 300 yards, 4 interceptions, no touchdowns, 44.6 passer rating) but threw just 1 pass over the next two seasons.

"These guys are on the team for a reason," Fox said. "He won't blink. He didn't blink with not being very experienced with us in Lambeau, so it's not going to be too big for him. He's been in big games.

"He can make all the throws. It's not overwhelming. That's pretty important at that position." Another opportunity:

Rookie linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski is the next man up with leading tackler Jerrell Freeman suspended for the next four games.

The fourth-round pick from West Virginia started his first NFL game in Week Three when Danny Trevathan was out with a broken thumb. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Kwiatkoski has played just 82 defensive snaps but is a key player on special teams, where he has the Bears' only forced fumble.

"His first game in the regular season wasn't so good," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "But the snaps since then have been good. He's been getting practice time. He's grown since the start of the season. He's got a better understanding of what we're doing and what he has to do. We'll find out." Injury epidemic:

Quarterback Jay Cutler (right shoulder) was just one of 18 players on this week's injury report, and one of eight who did not practice at all.

Running back Jeremy Langford (ill), wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe), guard Josh Sitton (ankle), linebackers Leonard Floyd (concussion) and Christian Jones (ankle, back), and cornerbacks Deiondre' Hall (ankle) and Cre'Von LeBlanc (concussion) did not participate.

Ten other players were limited: wide receiver Marquess Wilson (foot), offensive tackles Mike Adams (biceps), and Bobby Massie (concussion), defensive linemen Eddie Goldman (ankle) and Mitch Unrein (back), linebackers Pernell McPhee (knee) and Willie Young (ankle) and cornerbacks Demontre Hurst (knee), Sherrick McManis (neck) and Tracy Porter (knee).

Coming and going: Quarterback David Fales, who was signed from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, and linebacker Jonathan Anderson were added to the 53-man roster, and tight end Zach Miller was placed on injured reserve.

Offensive lineman Lawrence Okoye and defensive lineman Jimmy Staten were added to the practice squad.

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