Bears GM: Collins needed playing time

CLEVELAND - Asked about the decision to not play quarterback Jay Cutler at all in the final preseason game after he and the first-team offense failed to score in 21/2 quarters the week before, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was diplomatic.

"With the performance we had last week, why not (try to) end on a feel-good where you have a chance," Angelo said before Thursday night's game.

"But on the other side of it, we picked (Todd Collins) up late in the process and, irrelevant of him being a veteran, he still needs play time in fairness to him.

"Injuries happen, (so) you want to get him up to speed. Hopefully it's the best thing for us now and in the immediate future, the early part of the season."

The uncertainty of Caleb Hanie's sprained shoulder means the Bears almost certainly will have to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster after having the luxury of going with just two last season.

Hanie was locked in at No. 2, but he hasn't played since suffering the injury in the preseason opener. But Collins looked sharp Thursday, completing 10 of 15 passes for 139 yards and a passer rating of 118.5

"I think in all likelihood we're going to go with three because Todd's new; we still want to have a quarterback developing," Angelo said. "We'll have to do something with the roster a little bit that maybe we didn't think coming into the season."

With Cutler, Collins and Hanie, rookie Dan LeFevour's only hope is the practice squad, since Angelo doesn't see keeping four active as a possibility. LeFevour played the final two quarters and completed 4 of 9 passes for 44 yards and a passer rating of 59.5.

Falling behind: Earl Bennett is on the outside looking in with the wide-receiver rotation because of a hamstring injury that kept him out of all four preseason games.

Bennett returned to practice Monday for the first time since early August but was back on the sidelines Tuesday at Halas Hall, although coach Lovie Smith didn't consider that a setback.

"Setback?" Smith said. "I wouldn't say setback. He got some work in; as much as he's gotten in in awhile (Monday)."

But Bennett was held out again Thursday, and he is clearly behind Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu and Rashied Davis on the depth chart.

He is in the unenviable position of having to make up ground during practices if he wants to be on the field on Sundays.

Bennett caught 54 passes last season for 717 yards, but that was in Ron Turner's offense. Now it's Mike Martz's show, and Bennett has to prove himself again.

"Yeah, not only to Mike Martz, but to the team and to myself," said Bennett, who was sidelined for much of the off-season following arthroscopic knee surgery. "Just get out there and make plays and show them what I've got."

Bennett has done what he can to keep up by studying his playbook and taking mental reps, but the four weeks of inactivity have been frustrating.

"That's the toughest part, not being able to be out there to make plays and help the team," he said.

Sitting it out: With middle linebacker Brian Urlacher sitting out to rest the calf he injured in the second preseason game and Hunter Hillenmeyer not making the trip because of illness, Kevin Malast started at middle linebacker.

The first-year player from Rutgers had 5 tackles and a sack in the first half.

Urlacher vowed to be on the field for season opener. "I'm going to play against the Lions," he said.

Also sitting out: Lance Briggs was out with an ankle injury, leaving Brian Iwuh to start on the weak side. Iwuh led the Bears with 7 first-half tackles.

Linebacker Nick Roach (knee), center Olin Kreutz, and safeties Craig Steltz (ankle) and Major Wright (finger).