If called Orton says he'll be ready to go

With Rex Grossman expected to miss the remainder of the season, the Bears will have an opportunity to evaluate Kyle Orton, who hasn't played in a regular-season game in almost two years.

The question is: When?

"I don't know," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "We don't make those decisions right after games. We'll talk about it and see where we are.

"I've got a lot of confidence in Kyle; he had a really good preseason and training camp. I think Kyle's going to be a real good player in this league."

Orton's opportunity could come as soon as the next game, a week from Monday against the Vikings.

"I'll be ready to go," Orton said. "I don't know if it's going to happen or not, but when it does happen, I feel like I'm ready and confident, and I can play well."

Tall order: Rookie running back Garrett Wolfe has always had to overcome the negative assumptions that come with his lack of size.

"Some people may have a (negative) opinion about me," said the 5-foot-7, 185-pound Wolfe. "Some people may feel that I'll never pan out. But I feel that there are more people who are really supportive of me and my career and who hope I'll do well, than those who aren't."

Wolfe picked up 11 yards on his first carry Thursday night but just 2 more yards on his only other 2 carries. He did, however, catch 4 passes for 37 yards.

Silver lining: Even in a mostly dismal season, Bears coach Lovie Smith has been impressed by the performance of defensive left end Adewale Ogunleye, who leads the team with 9 sacks and 6 forced fumbles, including 5 in the past four games, and is No. 1 among the Bears' linemen with 50 tackles.

"One guy in particular has really played well for a while, and that's Adewale Ogunleye," Smith said. "Rushing the passer, just his entire game -- playing the run and the pass -- has really been good."

Ogunleye recovered his team-best third fumble of the season in the first half.

Catching on: Adrian Peterson entered Thursday's game fourth among NFL running backs in receptions with 40, and he was fifth with 335 receiving yards. Peterson's 82 receiving yards last week were the most by a Bears running back since James Allen had 93 on Dec. 3, 2000 vs. the Packers. Peterson's yardage and 7 catches last week were both career bests.

"It was OK," Peterson said. "I could have done more because we got beat. I could have gained more on that (29-yard) screen I had. There were a couple of those."

He added just 1 catch for 9 yards against the Redskins and picked up 35 yards on 17 carries.

Sitting it out: Cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) was inactive for the 10th straight game, and nose tackle Anthony Adams, who started the previous seven games, was out with an elbow injury.

Rookie Trumaine McBride started in place of Vasher for the sixth time in the past seven games, while Darwin Walker filled in for Adams. The defensive tackle spot was further depleted when Antonio Garay was carted off and lost for the remainder of the game early in the second quarter with a right ankle injury.

Right tackle Fred Miller was back in the starting lineup after missing last week's game with a sprained ankle, when he was replaced by John St. Clair.

The other inactives were linebackers Darrell McClover and Nick Roach, guard Josh Beekman and wide receiver Mike Hass.