Clark still a key factor in Bears offense

BOURBONNAIS - Even though Desmond Clark has relinquished the No. 1 spot at tight end, it doesn't mean the 11-year veteran from Wake Forest isn't still a key cog in the offense.

In Friday's 7-on-7 red- zone session, Clark caught TD passes of 17 and 9 yards from Jay Cutler in a three-play sequence, although he dropped a slippery ball earlier in rainy conditions. Rumors of Clark's demise have been somewhat exaggerated.

"I wouldn't say I was running with the No. 2s," he said. "I still run with the first team."

That's because the Bears often operate out of a two-tight end formation with Olsen and Clark both on the field. The 32-year-old Clark has more than 40 catches in each of the previous three seasons and has started 64 straight games at a position that has a high attrition rate.

"It's not a situation where I'm a 25-, 26-, 27-year-old in this game," he said. "So the situation is what it is. I just have to make the best of it. I don't want to sit here and act like I want to go to another team or something like that. I just do what I have to do and they pay me well, so I keep playing."

Getting after it: Defensive end Mark Anderson is a major reclamation project after slipping from 12 sacks as a rookie in 2006, to 5 in '07 and just 1 last season.

Friday's practice may have been his most impressive of camp. Near the end of the day, he hammered running back Kevin Jones behind the line of scrimmage.

"I want to try to be more complete about my game," the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Anderson said, "so I've been working hard in the weight room, off the field and just trying to get a little stronger so I can be able to hold up against the run, too."

The early results are encouraging.

"Mark has had a good camp - not only (Friday), but throughout," coach Lovie Smith said. "He's getting good competition, going against a good (offensive right) tackle a lot of the time in Chris Williams. Both of them making each other better."

The competition was so spirited Friday afternoon that Anderson and Williams skirmished, causing both lines to briefly join the dispute.

"It's all love," Anderson said. "At the end of the day we're still brothers. Just a little brotherly love, just a little hand tap here and there. It's all love, though."

Walking wounded: Zack Bowman (hamstring) and Hunter Hillenmeyer (calf) did not practice. Devin Hester and Tommie Harris dressed but did not practice because of soreness. Harris has done almost nothing in team drills and has only occasionally taken a full dose of individual work. Orlando Pace did individual work but nothing in team drills.

Coach Lovie Smith said Hester and Harris should be able to participate in today's noon practice at Soldier Field.