Patient Hass waits for an opportunity
Other than Bernard Berrian, none of the Bears wide receivers has made major contributions this season, which has led observers to wonder why Mike Hass hasn't gotten an opportunity.
Hass walked on at Oregon State and walked out as the leading receiver in school history, but he spent last year on the Bears' practice squad and has been active in just one game this season.
"Every guy in the locker room wants to play," Hass said. "They're not here just to be here. I have confidence in myself to go out and get the job done. It's just a matter of getting the opportunity."
Hass said he's anxious to get on the field, and even though he hasn't been told when or if he'll get that chance, he remains confident. "When they tell me I'm gonna play, I'm gonna play," he said. "But I never doubt myself."
Close to home: Babatunde Oshinowo played in one game for the Cleveland Browns last season as a rookie, but it'll be different Monday night in Minnesota and in the final two home games when the Neuqua Valley High School graduate suits up for the Bears.
"It does make it very special to be close to home and have my family and friends around," the backup defensive tackle said. "I think my parents might love it a little more than I do because I'm right here and they can drive up and see me whenever they want."
Oshinowo's parents and a handful of friends and family will be at the Metrodome, but next week at Soldier Field will be a different story.
"I might have to turn my phone off," the 6-foot-1, 325-pounder from Stanford said.
Focal point: Devin Hester had the second reception of his NFL career in the first meeting with the Vikings, an 81-yard TD with 1:38 remaining that tied the game at 31-31.
"I went deep and got a big play," Hester said, "so we're expecting to do some things like that this week. Whatever it takes to win this game, that's what we're trying to do."
Hester's presence on the field Monday night will be duly noted by the Vikings, as it has been more and more each week by every opponent, but that didn't stop him from catching 5 passes in the fourth quarter last week.
"When Devin lines up, they're pointing him out every time," Ron Turner said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing. If he plays 10 plays or 20 plays, (on) every one of those, they're pointing him out, and they're aware of where he is on the field at all times."
Withholding judgment: Vikings running back Adrian Peterson dashed through the Bears' defense for 224 yards on just 20 carries in Week 6, but defensive end Alex Brown isn't going overboard in his praise of the rookie.
"I wouldn't put him with Marshall Faulk; wouldn't put him with Shaun Alexander and guys like that," Brown said. "But he's good. He's really good. You can't just base stuff off one year, though. If he can come back and play well in the next couple of years, then maybe you can put him in a category like that."
Peterson leads the NFC with 1,200 rushing yards and the NFL with a 6.1-yard average per carry.
Injury update: Quarterback Rex Grossman (knee) and defensive tackle Darwin Walker (elbow) didn't practice Friday, and cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) and defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) were limited. Grossman is listed as "doubtful," and Vasher "questionable," although neither is expected to play. Walker and Harris are also questionable.