Bears ground game lacking

DETROIT -- It was another typically lousy day for Cedric Benson and the Bears' running game.

Benson, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, entered the game averaging just 3.2 yards per carry and didn't do much to improve, picking up just 50 yards on 15 attempts for a 3.3-yard average.

He also fumbled for the third time this season, only this time he didn't lose it because the ball was popped out of his grasp by Lions linebacker Ernie Sims with such force that it bounced and rolled all the way out of bounds.

"I was a little too high, jumping over the block in front of me, exposing (the ball)," Benson said. "I should have just stayed low."

That was with 11:40 left in the first half, and Benson didn't touch the ball again until the second half.

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner didn't say that Benson was temporarily benched, but he and coach Lovie Smith are growing weary of turnovers.

"Obviously he's got to hold on to the ball," Turner said. "But we also came into this game saying we wanted to get Garrett (Wolfe) in there, and give him an opportunity to play and see what he could do."

The third-round draft pick from Northern Illinois didn't provide much of a spark, picking up 3 yards on 3 carries, as the ground game totaled just 69 yards on 22 attempts.

It was the worst performance yet this season for a team that entered the game 26th in rushing yardage.

After a first half in which he had 5 yards on 3 carries, Benson had a respectable 10 carries for 47 yards in the second half.

"We went back to our normal stuff," he said. "Power 'O,' our slants; we went back to our normal, basic smash-mouth football."

But it was small consolation.

"Again, we didn't get a lot done running game-wise," Smith said, "or in the passing game."

Not over yet: Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, who drafted Rex Grossman in the first round with the 22nd pick in 2003, isn't pleased with the chain of events that have resulted in the benching of the five-year veteran in favor of Brian Griese.

But Angelo's not ready to give up on Grossman, although that could happen soon, since he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"It's disappointing only because Rex has put in a ton of time not only this off-season but also going through the injuries," Angelo said. "It's unfortunate, but it doesn't mean that Rex's career is over or anything like that.

"It's just we needed to make a change given that we have to put the best people out there each and every Sunday that we feel gives us the best opportunity (to win).

"We're certainly not blaming Rex for the demise of the offense thus far."

With 12 games left, Grossman still has time to salvage his season and his Bears career, according to the Bears' GM.

"It's way too early in the season to be making determinations on anybody's future," Angelo said. "We've got a lot of football left to play, but we have to address that at the right time."

Hits keep coming: In addition to cornerbacks Nate Vasher (groin) and Charles Tillman (ankle) and safety Adam Archuleta (broken hand), linebacker Lance Briggs (hamstring) also missed Sunday's game and was replaced by Jamar Williams.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (sprained knee) only practiced on Friday, and that was on a limited basis, but he was in the starting lineup against the Lions.

Guard Ruben Brown (ankle) and tackle Fred Miller (knee), who were also limited in Friday's practice and idle prior to that, both started.

Left tackle John Tait suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter and was replaced for the remainder of the game by John St. Clair.

Rookie Kevin Payne left in the second quarter with an injury to his right arm, which was heavily wrapped and in a sling as he left the locker room.

Tidbits: For the fourth week in a row, the Bears blocked a field-goal attempt, when Danieal Manning got a piece of Jason Hanson's 39-yarder with 8:36 left in the first half. Later in the game, Israel Idonije, who blocked 2 field goals earlier in the season, blocked an extra-point try. …

Devin Hester caught his first NFL pass with 6:36 left in the first half. It went for a 3-yard gain. … The Bears fumbled five times but somehow managed to retain possession each time. … Rookie tight end Greg Olsen, the Bears' first-round draft pick, was hardly on the field at all and didn't catch a pass.