Bears' wide receiver jobs still up for grabs

BOURBONNAIS - Bernard Berrian had 20 more catches and 381 more receiving yards than any Bears teammate last season, but he departed as a free agent for Minnesota when the Vikings offered him $42 million over six years.

It remains to be seen if anyone on the current roster can fill that 71-catch, 951-yard void that Berrian left, and coach Lovie Smith doesn't seem thrilled about addressing it.

"That seems like a long time ago," he said. "Bernard's somewhere else right now, and we like our receivers we have. I'm 50 years old; I forget pretty quick.

"Bernard was here last year, right? I can talk about our receivers quite a bit. We like everything they're doing. We appreciate what Bernard did for us in the past."

With several wide receivers competing for starting jobs and playing time, the evaluation process might take until the final preseason game, and even then the depth chart might not be set in stone.

"I can see a lot of guys getting reps," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "The guys we (keep), I could see all of them being involved. I don't think it'll be a situation where it's just going to be two or three guys playing 90 percent of the time. If we have five or six, I can see them all getting a lot of playing time."

Even the role as No. 1 receiver is still up for grabs.

"We have a lot of guys we think can move into that role, but we haven't given out any starting jobs or anything like that," coach Lovie Smith said. "We definitely think Devin Hester can be a No 1 receiver for us. Brandon Lloyd has looked good, Marty Booker has been a No.1 receiver, and we like what Rashied Davis has been able to do. Earl Bennett was a high draft pick for us (third round), and Mark Bradley's coming back, so we have some good depth."

The debate about whether Hester can be a No. 1 receiver has been a lively one, but Smith hasn't wavered.

"I wouldn't doubt anything that Devin Hester could do, whether it's returning punts, taking a couple snaps at quarterback or playing cornerback," Smith said. "I think he'd be able to figure it out."

Taking a shot: Though he's a longshot to make the final roster, 6-foot-3, 198-pound wide receiver Brandon Rideau has taken advantage of recent opportunities to showcase his skills.

With Mark Bradley and Brandon Lloyd getting some time off for minor injuries, Rideau has received more reps and made more catches.

"I got a chance to come out and make some plays, so I just did that," the Kansas product said after starring in a recent practice. "We've got some guys that are taking a little time to get back to 100 percent, so I had a chance to come out and get in the first lineup and have a chance to shine."

Rideau caught 5 passes for 87 yards with the Bears in the 2007 preseason, but he suffered an ankle injury, was waived and then re-signed late in the season. Minus the injury, he might have made the opening-day roster.

"It's not for me to say," Rideau said. "I don't know. I hope I would have made the team, but that was ultimately for the coaches to decide."

"Last year at this time we were talking about he and Mike Hass," coach Lovie Smith said. "He got hurt at the end, but he was really making progress. Now we've had him all off-season, and he seems like he's one of our guys. He has ability and he got an opportunity. You need to step up when you get that chance."

Rideau was on the Bears' practice squad for most of 2006 and split time between the Cleveland Browns' practice squad and their active roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

Getting noticed: For a fifth-round draft pick who is the No. 3 tight end, rookie Kellen Davis has made quite an impression in training camp.

"He's really stepped up," coach Lovie Smith said. "You notice him."

At 6-feet-7 and 262 pounds, it's difficult not to notice Davis, who towers over most of the offensive linemen yet runs well enough to have already made several impressive receptions down the field. Combine that with the soft hands of a wide receiver, and Davis seems like a potential weapon in the passing game.

The problem is, the Bears already have two of those in Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark. The job opening is for a blocking tight end to replace John Gilmore.

"It would be great for me to get out there and catch some balls if I can, and if that happens I welcome it," Davis said. "But the team needs me to block, so that's what I'm going to do."

Most tight ends are asked to block and catch, although there probably aren't any who don't consider catching the ball more enjoyable than blocking defensive ends and linebackers.

"Pancaking guys is a little fun, too," Davis said. "Hopefully I can get a little bit of both in there."

Injury update: Running back Garrett Wolfe, fullback Jason McKie, linebackers Jamar Williams and Michael Okwo, and offensive linemen Terrence Metcalf and Chris Williams all missed Friday night's practice at Soldier Field.

Cornerback Charles Tillman returned after missing several days because of a family illness.

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