Bears linebacker Hillenmeyer placed on IR

Last year the Bears used six different starting linebackers because of injuries, and this year is off to an unhealthy start as well.

Hunter Hillenmeyer, the team's most experienced and versatile backup linebacker, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because of a concussion.

Hillenmeyer suffered the injury during the third preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and missed the preseason finale as a result.

After passing all medical tests following the conclusion of the preseason schedule, he returned to practice before the season opener against the Detroit Lions.

But Hillenmeyer was removed from Sunday's game at halftime after becoming ill during the contest.

The Bears' other top backup, Nick Roach, did not play in the second half of the season opener because of a hamstring injury, and he is not expected to play Sunday at Dallas.

Last year six-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher played just the first half of the season opener before suffering a season-ending dislocated wrist.

Pisa Tinoisamoa, who won the starting job at strongside linebacker, appeared in just two games and played a little more than one half of a game because of two knee injuries.

Hillenmeyer did not travel to Cleveland with the Bears for the final preseason game because of a "sickness," according to the team. That was the same reason given for his absence in the second half of the season opener.

The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Hillenmeyer seemed ambivalent about the decision to place him on injured reserve, which will end his season.

"I have mixed emotions," Hillenmeyer said. "I respect the decision of (general manager) Jerry (Angelo) and (coach) Lovie (Smith) to place me on injured reserve.

"Concussions by nature are harder to evaluate than other injuries. While this is probably in my best interest and the team's, it is hard to accept the fact that my season is over in one game.

"As someone who has been in the forefront of player advocacy of concussion awareness, I'm happy to see my team err on the side of caution. But when it is my season that is cut short, it makes the complexity of the issues really hit home."

Hillenmeyer started 13 games last season, 12 at middle linebacker, where he filled in admirably for Urlacher and had what defensive coaches considered one of his finest seasons, making a career-high 105 tackles.

"After consulting with our doctors and Hunter, this was the best way to proceed," Angelo said. "We will miss his contributions this year, but it is the right decision given Hunter's circumstances."

The eight-year veteran originally was a fifth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2003 but was released in the final cutdown. Three days later he was signed to the Bears' practice squad and appeared in 13 games as a standout special-teams player.

Over the previous six seasons, Hillenmeyer started 69 games for the Bears.

Without Hillenmeyer, and if Roach also is out, the Bears would be left with only one backup linebacker, Brian Iwuh, although they had four free-agent linebackers in for tryouts Tuesday.

They also could seek to re-sign Kevin Malast, who was their leading tackler in the preseason finale but released in the final cutdown.