Detroit turns up the talk as Bears corners sit out practice
With starting cornerbacks Charles "Peanut" Tillman and Nate Vasher both missing practice Wednesday because of injuries, there is concern with how the Bears' defense can stop Detroit's talented receivers.
Lions wide receivers Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams have combined for 25 catches, 389 yards and 3 touchdowns in just three games.
Johnson, at 6-feet-5 and 239 pounds, has 17 receptions for 276 yards and 2 TDs. With Williams (6-3, 211), they are two of the biggest wide receivers in the NFL, and Williams is one of the more talkative.
"Peanut is my guy, and he lucked out that he doesn't get to play against us, if he doesn't play," Williams said. "He's a heck of a player. He's one of my 'homies' in the NFL, a great competitor, a great guy that I love to go against twice a year. So I'm looking forward to that challenge, but if he can't go, we're going to have to exploit the next corner."
The Bears' "next corner" is Corey Graham, who, in his second season, has earned playing time in the starting lineup in place of Vasher.
"Wow. Is that what he said?" Graham said when told of Williams' comments. "That's big. That's the first time I heard that one. Well, we know Roy's going to be getting the ball if Tillman doesn't play, so you've just got to go out there and compete, and hopefully it gives me more of an opportunity to get my hands on the ball. You want to do well no matter what, but it's good to hear things like that."
Knowing Williams' gift of gab, Graham wasn't surprised by his confident talk.
"He's a big-time receiver," Graham said. "He's got to think like that."
Injury update: Wide receivers Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd and defensive tackle Tommie Harris all sat out Wednesday's practice because of knee injuries, and cornerbacks Nate Vasher (wrist) and Charles Tillman (shoulder) also did not participate.
"It's a long season, so it's not the end of the world," Lloyd said after Wednesday's practice. "(But) I don't want to miss any time. I want to be out there with the guys, and I feel like they need me out there, so I kind of feel like I'm letting them down by not being out there. I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back as soon as possible but still be smart about it."
Safety Kevin Payne (neck) and offensive tackle Chris Williams (back) practiced but were limited.
Worthy cause: For the 20th consecutive year, the Bears are conducting their annual Coat Drive through Nov. 30, and the goal this year is to collect 30,000 coats for needy children in the Chicago area.
The Bears, in partnership with Jewel-Osco and the Salvation Army, collected 27,000 coats last year. Coats can be donated at area Jewel-Osco stores.
For more information, go to ChicagoBears.com/community or call (773) 205-3636 for store locations.
Park place: Staples and the Bears are teaming up for the second year of Staples Dream Park Challenge, a park-improvement initiative involving 15 Chicago-area parks. Local residents can visit www.StaplesDreamPark.com/Bears through Nov. 15 to vote for their community park to win $25,000 in improvements. The second-place park will win $10,000, and the third-place park will receive $5,000.
Among the area participating parks are Twin Lakes Park in Villa Park, Bartrum Park in Elk Grove Village, Dove Park in Palatine and Arrowhead Park in Naperville.