Running game still stuck in neutral

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner wanted to see more production from the running game Saturday night. And he wasn't worried about wearing out featured ball carrier Cedric Benson.

"I don't think we need to take it easy on him," Turner said. "We just want to get him in the flow of it, get him some carries, get him hit some, get the timing with the offensive line."

Benson got plenty of carries (19), but just a paltry 33 yards, for an abysmal 1.7 yards-per-carry average in the Bears' 31-28 exhibition win over San Francisco at Soldier Field on Saturday.

On 8 of Benson's carries he was thrown for a loss or held to no gain.

"We had some positives, we were moving forward, and we also had a couple mishaps there, a couple missed assignments," Benson said. "Not every time when you get the ball is there going to be a hole there where you have an opportunity to run straight through full-speed ahead. I'm not frustrated at all.

"It's the preseason, and the O-line keeps reminding me of that and I'm sure we'll get some big plays when the regular season starts."

Backup Adrian Peterson picked up 27 yards on 6 carries for a 4.5-yard average, and rookie Garrett Wolfe had a team-best 41 yards on 13 attempts (3.2-yard average).

Difficult decisions: With Tuesday's mandatory cutdown to 75 players, Saturday night was the final game action for several Bears.

"We have a lot at stake this week," coach Lovie Smith said before the game. "We need to see some players step up and prove that they belong here."

Four days after the first cuts, on Sept. 1, all teams must reduce their rosters to 53, two days after the Bears' final preseason game, at home against the Cleveland Browns.

"It seems like it gets a little bit tougher each year," Smith said of the cuts. "We have better players at all the positions, which will make for good competition, and we will have some tough cuts. But you want to be in a position where you have tough cuts instead of just a few guys who can play."

Taking some time: Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (hamstring) missed his third straight preseason game with the same excuse, that the team is bringing him back cautiously from last season's surgery on his hamstring. Coach Lovie Smith said he still anticipates the two-time Pro Bowler back for the regular-season opener.

"I expect him to be in the lineup in San Diego with the first group and play at the level that we've grown accustomed to Tommie playing."

Guard Ruben Brown (soreness), wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad (soreness), defensive lineman Israel Idonije (ankle), offensive tackle John St. Clair (shoulder) and wide receiver Brandon Rideau (ankle) also did not play.

Devin Hester started in place of Muhammad, Terrence Metcalf filled in for Brown and Darwin Walker again replaced Harris. Hester suffered a shoulder injury midway through the first quarter and did not return.

Fitting in: Because he made his presence felt in the passing game immediately, it didn't seem like rookie tight end Greg Olsen needed any time to adapt to his new surroundings, but he admits it's been different.

"I didn't really know what to expect, so it wasn't really a surprise, but everything was new," said Olsen, who caught 2 passes for 12 yards Monday night after snagging 2 for 17 in the preseason opener.

Olsen's caught 2 first-half passes for 39 yards against the 49ers. His 16-yard catch and run set up the final TD of the first half, and his 23-yarder preceded the Bears' second TD.