Safety spot still up for grabs

A lot of the questions that needed to be answered going into training camp are still up in the air.

At strong safety, Brandon McGowan started three of four preseason games, but he has been passed on the depth chart by Kevin Payne, who started once at strong safety and at free safety in the final preseason game, when Mike Brown was rested.

"We haven't necessarily locked it in," said Bears coach Lovie Smith.

"Around Wednesday or so we'll kind of come out with our starting lineup. Both guys will play a lot for us, I'll say that. Both will be on the field at some point."

A demotion for McGowan could cause a domino effect, with him replacing Danieal Manning at nickel back, although there's a chance that both could see time there vs. the Colts.

"It's the same situation," Smith said. "Daniel, Brandon and Kevin Payne are all good football players, and all will help us win this year."

Payne wouldn't confirm his promotion, but he didn't deny it.

"It's just exciting being able to go out there and play against the Colts," he said.

McGowan started nine games last season, but he wasn't overly impressive in the preseason, although nobody on defense was.

"Whatever position they need me to play, I'll play," McGowan said. "If they need me to play d-line, I'll play d-line."

On the offensive line, Josh Beekman started every preseason game at left guard in place of Terrence Metcalf and is expected to open vs. the Colts. Metcalf came to camp as the starter but had arthroscopic knee surgery before the first preseason game and didn't return to practice until Monday.

Dealing with adversity: Matt Forte will be the first rookie running back to start a season opener for the Bears since Walter Payton in 1975. But of more immediate concern to him was the welfare of his family in Slidell, La., near New Orleans, where Hurricane Gustav struck Monday.

Forte's parents and brother had already evacuated (to Atlanta) along with 2 million other residents of the area.

"It's a distraction somewhat, but that's part of life," Forte said. "You always have distractions and things that come up that you don't expect. You have to learn how to deal with things like that."

Informed that Payton was held to zero yards on 8 carries in his debut, Forte said, "Hopefully I'll do better than that."

Latest additions: Former Fighting Illini fullback Jason Davis and wide receiver Brandon Rideau were officially added to the practice squad on Monday, leaving one more spot available.

The 5-foot-10, 245-pound Davis was cut by the Eagles on Saturday. Rideau was re-signed after he was cut by the Bears, despite leading the team with 127 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in the preseason.

"It was a tough thing to deal with, but I was able to stick around," Rideau said. "I didn't really want to move and I'm comfortable here."

Davis spent 2006 on injured reserve with the Eagles after suffering a knee injury in the preseason, and he was on their practice squad last season.