Fox kicks Bears' practices up a notch

BOURBONNAIS - Even a media contingent that has had to jump through hoops to get a good look at the Chicago Bears' training-camp practices can tell that the physicality has been dialed up in the first year of the John Fox regime.

Thursday morning provided an excellent example, specifically an inside handoff to Daniel Thomas, a fifth-year veteran vying for a roster spot.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Thomas encountered 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback Demontre Hurst just outside the end zone in an 11-on-11, full-contact goal line period.

After a full-speed collision, Thomas drove Hurst into the end zone.

"The guys enjoy it," Fox said. It's a hard thing to practice, short yardage or goal line, because it's such a tight play. Over experience, you learn that you're better off just going live.

"You can see how guys execute (and) a little bit (of) toughness, how guys are at the point of attack. It's pretty much a grunt play. So we enjoy watching it."

So do the fans, who didn't get to see much all-out contact in the previous couple years. But Fox and his staff walk a tightrope determining the amount of full-speed collisions they'll allow.

"It's a fine line," Fox said. "As a coach, you hold your breath every day because it's a physical game and injuries are a part of it.

"You try to minimize those. You're really trying to get football ready and make sure you have guys left to play football with.

"So it's never easy. But I believe you have to be in hitting shape. Otherwise, that first game you get into, you get guys whacked. So (it's about) conditioning them so they can go into that contest and survive."

Injury and illness:

For the second straight day, rookie offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje was forced out of practice by an asthma attack.

"We're going to monitor that, (and) hopefully get that right," coach John Fox said of the 6-foot-6, 342-pound sixth-round pick's condition.

Offensive lineman Michael Ola did not participate after leaving Wednesday's practice early.

"His prognosis was a knee strain," Fox said. "He's day to day right now, more than likely it looks like about a week, (but) maybe faster. Maybe a little bit slower. Luckily, it wasn't real, real serious."

Ego Ferguson, the 2014 second-round pick, who has been getting snaps at defensive end with the first team, was excused for personal reasons.

David Fales, the 2014 sixth-round pick who was expected to battle for a backup quarterback position, remains on the non-football-illness list with an undisclosed malady, but he has made progress, according to Fox.

"His deal is just to rest, not any sudden movements," Fox said. "He went from not walking around at practice to now he is walking around at practice. So I would say (he'll be back) shortly."

Rapid recovery:

Willie Young's comeback from late December Achilles tendon surgery has been encouraging.

After a week of light jogging and agility alone on adjacent practice fields, the team's 2014 sack leader is being eased back into practice.

"He can get out there with the team and go through individual (drills)," coach John Fox said. "He's picked up what he's been doing every day."

Dropping a bomb:

Lamarr Houston, working his way back from last season's torn ACL and transitioning from defensive end to outside linebacker, provided one of camp's humorous moments with a blooper that had to be censored for TV.

Asked if he felt at a disadvantage learning the new defense because of the October injury, Houston started to reply as if he were in the locker room: "It's not like I was (blanking) missing ... uhhhh, it's not like I was off the face of the universe."

After the laughter died down, Houston continued: "I was still there in OTAs, still in meetings, still learning the defense. I just haven't been able to practice.

"So, no, I don't feel behind at all."