Ogunleye helping Harris during difficult times

MINNEAPOLIS - The re-emergence of defensive tackle Tommie Harris as an impact player should make everyone on the defense better, especially his linemates, according to defensive left end Adewale Ogunleye.

Harris had 2 sacks against the Rams, as did Ogunleye, and right end Alex Brown had 1.

In the first quarter Sunday night Harris and Brown both got their fifth sack of the season, tying them for the team lead.

"I've watched Tommie the last couple games, since he's gotten back from (a team-imposed) suspension (for chronic tardiness), and he's been a different person," Ogunleye said. "He's been very active. He's causing a lot of havoc in the backfield. We're going to do better because now the focus is going to move back to Tommie, and rightfully so, and me and Alex and the guys on the edge should have a lot more fun."

Ogunleye said he's talked to Harris over the past few weeks while he was going through some difficult times, which included the suspension and poor play on the field.

"I'm one of the few guys in the locker room that can really say something to him when I think he's not doing what he needs to do," Ogunleye said. "I've talked to him just to make sure that his mind's right. He was suspended for missing a couple meetings and with that, you want to make sure that the outside factors in his life won't get in the way too much. Me being like the older guy, the older brother, I just wanted to step in and see how he's doing, and I can do that with him."

Cane and Cajun: The Bears finally got around to calling their version of the Wildcat formation for the first time last week with direct snaps to running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Devin Hester. It wasn't anything different than what many other NFL teams have already run, but both players are capable of throwing the ball, and that would put a different spin on the gimmick play.

At Tulane, Forte ran and threw from what the Bears call "Cajun" when he takes the snap and "Cane," when Hester gets the ball.

"I can throw the ball," Hester said.

"If he calls it, I'll do it," Forte said. "If that's one of his plays in the playbook, and we put it in, I'll definitely throw it."

The Bears ran the Cajun once in the first half against the Vikings on Sunday, and Forte was stopped for no gain.

In and out: Starting nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek suffered an arm injury on the second play of Sunday's game and did not return.

Fullback Jason McKie was inactive after suffering a quadriceps injury during Friday's practice. He was replaced by former Illini fullback Jason Davis, who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday.

The Bears other inactives were running back Kevin Jones, guard Terrence Metcalf, defensive tackle Matt Toeaina, wide receivers Marty Booker (knee) and Brandon Rideau and defensive end Ervin Baldwin

Caleb Hanie was the third quarterback.

Corey Graham started at cornerback in place of Nate Vasher, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a fractured hand.