Hard-working Paea using his smarts, strength

In his fourth season, nose tackle Stephen Paea's 6 sacks are equal to his combined total in his first three years.

The 2011 second-round pick from Oregon State also is third on the team with 9 quarterback pressures and third among linemen with 21 solo tackles.

"He was very productive (against the Bucs)," defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said of Paea's first 2-sack game Sunday in a 21-13 win over the Bucs at Soldier Field. "And he's been pretty consistent all year. He's worked extremely hard. He's stayed healthy."

After setting the NFL Scouting Combine record with 49 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, Paea came to the Bears with a reputation for exceptional strength. But there's more to his game.

"Paea's a very smart player and he studies," Tucker said. "He takes really good notes in the meetings, and he watches the film. He has a pretty good idea of pass protections and things like that, so he knows how to use his leverage.

"He's done a nice job of using his hands this season. And he is strong, he can win 1-on-1, so that's what he's doing."

Who needs practice?

The Bears will not conduct any normal practices this week because of the short down time between games.

Walk-throughs and meeting will replace on-the-field, full-speed practices, which is a typical approach with just three days between games.

Coach Marc Trestman believes it's still possible to clean up past mistakes while preparing for Thursday's game against the Lions at Ford Field (11:30 a.m., CBS).

"It's a mental thing, anyway," Trestman said. "It's really everybody focusing on doing their job. We'll be in the noise this week. That'll be certainly a factor.

"We have to lock in to the snap count and use our silent count and our alternative cadence systems to be able to get it done in the noise. "(That) will be critically important. We've got to stay in sequence and not get behind the chains (with pre-snap penalties)."

The Bears defeated the Giants 27-21 on a Thursday night at Soldier Field in Week 6 last season after losing to the Saints 26-18 at home four days earlier.

"We're all used to it, all of us who have been down the road have gone Sunday-Thursday, even the young guys," Trestman said. "Everybody has to do it over the course of the season.

"It's a privilege to play in these kind of games (on) Thanksgiving Day. Our guys are excited about being able to do that."

(Imaginary) injury report:

The Bears' Tuesday work day consisted of walk-throughs and meetings because of the short week.

The injury report is an estimation of what players' activity would have been had there been a full practice.

Linebackers Lance Briggs (groin) and Darryl Sharpton (hamstring), cornerback Kyle Fuller (knee), defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (knee), defensive end Trevor Scott (knee), center-guard Brian de la Puente (ankle) and wide receiver Chris Williams (hamstring) would not have participated.

Marc Trestman said decisions on Fuller and Briggs might not be made until 90 minutes before game time.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (ankle) and safety Brock Vereen (shoulder) would have been limited, while offensive linemen Jordan Mills (ribs) and Eben Britton (illness) would have been full participants.