Survivor Wolfe rejoices
By now, 5-foot-7 running back Garrett Wolfe knows a lot about beating the odds as a little man in a big man's game - and he appears to have come out on top again with a spot on the 53-man roster.
"I've been blessed beyond my wildest imagination," Wolfe said, as he prepares for his fourth season with the Bears.
"I'm just happy to still have the opportunity to be here and compete at a high level and do the things necessary to earn a living."
It was assumed throughout training camp and the preseason that either Wolfe or Kahlil Bell would not make the final roster with Matt Forte and Chester Taylor slated to get the vast majority of the rushes and receptions in the backfield.
But both have survived, which didn't shock Wolfe.
"Kahlil came out and practiced hard and prepared as well as I did," Wolfe said. "The numbers aren't something we can worry about. I know Kahlil wasn't worried about it, and it wasn't something I thought about.
"All we could do is go out and do the things necessary. We did a good job of that."
Wolfe's outstanding special-teams play is always a factor when it comes to final cuts.
Before he missed the final eight games last season because of a lacerated kidney, He was tied for third on the team with 9 special-teams tackles.
The injury, which kept Wolfe bedridden and hospitalized for a week, gave him a greater appreciation for the basics.
"The simple things in life are very precious," he said. "Being able to walk or run, that's something that was taken away from me in an instant.
"Just having an opportunity to come out and run around and feel like an athlete again, it was something that I really take a lot of pride in.
"I'm happy that I can do those things again."
Getting healthier: Linebacker Lance Briggs (knee) did not practice, nor did safety Craig Steltz, who did some rehab work off to the side with trainer Bobby Slater.
Quarterback Caleb Hanie, wide receiver Earl Bennett and linebackers Brian Urlacher, Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer all returned to the practice field after missing the final preseason game.
The practice (squad): Linebacker J.D. Folsom, who was signed Monday, completes the Bears' eight-man practice squad.
Defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, the Bears' top pick in the 2009 draft, who was cut Saturday, was signed to the New York Jets practice squad Monday.
The 6-3, 230-pound Folsom was a seventh-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2009.
Practice-squad players are paid $5,200 a week for 17 weeks, a total of $88,400 for an entire season.
Team leaders: Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, Olin Kreutz, Jay Cutler and Patrick Mannelly were announced Monday as captains, as voted on by their teammates.