Can Bears’ Lance Louis keep up his physical play?

With right guard Chris Spencer limited in Thursday’s practice with a fracture in his right hand, Lance Louis took first-team snaps there and is expected to be back in his original spot Monday night against the Lions.

Louis was the opening-day starter but suffered a sprained ankle that kept him out until last Sunday, when he subbed at right guard in the second quarter just after Spencer was injured. Louis then replaced ineffective right tackle Frank Omiyale, who was benched in the second half, while Spencer returned at right guard.

With the specter of Lions Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh looming, Louis is a much better option than a one-handed Spencer.

“(Louis) put 10 guys on the ground in 41 plays last week,” offensive line coach Mike Tice said. “That’s a lot of guys on the ground. He’s playing with great physical presence

and confidence; more confident inside (at guard) than outside (at tackle).”

That would mean another start for Omiyale, but he’s running out of chances.

“Frank is like many players,” Tice said. “When you have some bad plays, you can’t compound those with other bad plays. You try to minimize the amount of bad plays you have in succession. So that’s what we’re trying to do with Frank, we’re trying to keep his bad plays to sporadic, as opposed to back to back.”

Expensive hit:Safety Brandon Meriweather was fined $20,000 by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith last week, but he said he would appeal. Meriweather was not penalized on the play.Meriweather received a $50,000 fine last season for two helmet-to-helmet hits on Ravens tight end Todd Heap, although it was reduced to $40,000 on appeal. Injury report:Wide receiver Earl Bennett (chest) and offensive tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) did not practice Thursday and will not play Monday night.Safety Chris Harris (hamstring), tight end Matt Spaeth (calf) and cornerback Charles Tillman (hip) were all limited. For the Lions, starting linebacker Justin Durant (concussion) and strong safety Amari Spievey (hamstring) did not practice. Starting free safety Louis Delmas (abdomen) was limited.ŸFollow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.