Smith stays positive regarding injuries

Coach Lovie Smith, as usual, was upbeat Monday regarding all injuries.

Even defensive lineman Israel Idonije, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee early Monday morning, was not ruled out for the next game, against the Falcons on Oct. 18 at Atlanta.

"(A) cleanup a little bit in one of his knees," Smith said. "He should be ready to go. Nothing major, so he should be all right."

Idonije, who has been playing with minor irritation in the knee for most of the season, had 1 of the Bears' 5 sacks Sunday and also forced a fumble that the Bears recovered.

Wide receiver Devin Hester originally had what was called a "shoulder injury" but was referred to Monday by Smith as a "shoulder-area injury."

It sounds a lot like a stinger, in technical terms a "brachial plexus trauma" in the neck that results in decreased strength in the arm.

"He should be fine," said Smith, who added, "Adrian Peterson has a knee sprain. He should be OK. Don't know the extent of his injury still. Johnny Knox will be fine. He had a shin injury."

If the Bears determine Peterson won't be back for the Falcons, they would sign another backup running back to go along with Garrett Wolfe.

"It would be hard to just go into a game with two running backs on our roster," Smith said. "I'm hoping we won't get to that point."

Linebackers Pisa Tinoisamoa, who has missed three games with a sprained knee, and Hunter Hillenmeyer, who missed the Lions game with a rib injury, "are getting better and hopefully they will be ready to go next time we play," Smith said.

Returns are in: No single play got more attention - or more laughs - in the Bears' locker room after Sunday's game than defensive tackle Tommie Harris' first career interception and the ensuing "return," which was less than graceful.

No one had more fun with it than Harris, who was asked why he didn't flash his breakaway speed.

"Breakaway speed?" he said. "I caught the ball and the (offensive) lineman was right there. I didn't know which way to go.

"I've heard the saying, 'Act like you've been there before,' but I've never been there. This was my first time, so I just did what I could do."

Harris stumbled ahead for 6 yards to the Lions' 8, which set up a touchdown.

Afterward he talked about his previous interception, which came against UCLA when he was at Oklahoma. He wasn't even sure if it was an interception or a fumble, since the intended receiver was separated from the ball almost immediately.

"Well," Harris was asked, "did the receiver have possession?"

"I don't know nothing about no depression," Harris said, cracking up the crowd.

On Monday, a nonpractice day, Harris was asked if he would be working on his returns.

"I'm definitely going to get on that," he said. "That's why I came in today, to work on the Juggs machine and do a little moves out there."

Words of wisdom: Tommie Harris said coach Lovie Smith has been more emotional than he was at halftime Sunday, but his words were effective in helping the Bears turn a 21-21 game into a rout.

"He doesn't call each guy out," Harris said. "When he does speak it means a lot to us. He spoke more than what he usually does at halftime. Whenever a coach has to come in and state the obvious, it means something is going wrong.

"Guys saw that and began to talk to other guys."