Bears like what they've seen from Williams, may start him in Briggs' slot

The Bears' Jamar Williams may or may not get another opportunity to play Sunday in place of linebacker Lance Briggs, who is questionable with a hip injury.

But there's little doubt that Williams will replace Briggs as the starter as soon as Briggs leaves in a hurry via free agency in March.

Williams made another good impression last week filling in for Briggs, as he did last off-season and preseason while the veteran was pouting over his contract situation.

"He did a very good job (Sunday)," defensive coordinator Bob Babich said of Williams, a fourth-round pick out of Arizona State in 2006. "He was very productive for the number of plays that he was in. He showed to be a very good tackler, he attacked, and he played physical football, so we were very pleased with his effort."

Williams was replaced in passing situations by an extra defensive back, but he still managed 6 tackles, including 4 solos, while playing less than half the snaps. In his short Bears career, the 6-foot, 237-pound Williams has gotten reps at all three linebacker positions, and that versatility makes him more valuable, but he said he prefers the weak side.

"All three are a little bit different," he said. "I'm trying to learn the techniques, the basics, the fundamentals, the responsibilities (of each). I'm just trying to get better each time I play. My goal since Day One has been to get onto the field.

"Learning all three, it helped me get there."

Woulda, shoulda, coulda: One of the most popular pastimes around Halas Hall all season has been the "What if" game, and even the players have been involved.

"We've been asking, 'What if?' really since the first game of the year," tight end Desmond Clark said. "What if we would have beat San Diego? Would that have changed our season around? There's a bunch of what-ifs, but we can't go back and change it, so what's the use of dwelling on it? Right now all we have is the New Orleans Saints.

"And what if we beat them?"

A victory Sunday would allow the Bears to avoid a season of double-digit losses and give them their only back-to-back wins of the season.

"It would send us off into the off-season feeling good about where our team ended, not where it was," Clark said. "We felt we could have been better than what we have been this year. We'll feel good about how we ended the season if we beat New Orleans."

Last man standing: Saints running back Pierre Thomas was at his parents' home in south-suburban Lynwood for a surprise Christmas visit, and his family and friends could get another surprise Sunday if the free-agent rookie from the University of Illinois starts against the Bears.

Thomas began the season as the Saints' fourth-string running back, but Deuce McAllister is already on injured reserve with a knee injury, Reggie Bush (knee) is out and Aaron Stecker (toe, questionable) didn't practice all week.

That leaves Thomas, who has 30 carries this season for 146 yards and a team-best 4.9-yard average; and Jamaal Branch, who spent most of the season on the practice squad and hasn't touched the ball yet.

"It makes me feel great," Thomas said of the possibility for his first NFL start or at least extended playing time. "I'm going to have a lot of family and friends there. I've gotten a lot of support just playing at this level, so it's going to be a blessing to go out there and play in front of my family and friends."

Injury update: Linebacker Lance Briggs (hip) and quarterback Rex Grossman (knee) were limited at Friday's practice and are questionable for Sunday. Everyone else participated, although wide receivers Bernard Berrian (knee) and Muhsin Muhammad (ankle), offensive tackle Fred Miller and defensive tackles Tommie Harris (knee) and Darwin Walker (elbow) are probable.