Health remains a concern for Bears
The health of the offensive line continues to be a concern.
Rookie center Hroniss Grasu, who suffered a neck injury during Wednesday's practice, was held out Thursday, and his availability for Sunday's game vs. the Vikings remains uncertain.
Grasu started the previous two games after veteran Will Montgomery suffered a season-ending leg fracture in Week 4.
If Grasu, the third-round draft pick out of Oregon, can't play Sunday the Bears will have to move left guard Matt Slauson to center or promote center Barrett Jones from the practice squad.
Coach John Fox wasn't dropping any clues.
"I won't get into our lineup changes," Fox said. "We'll try to get our best five out there against Minnesota."
Charles Leno, the Bears' 2014 seventh-round draft pick, has started the previous three games at left tackle in place of Jermon Bushrod, who remains limited at practice with a shoulder injury.
Uncertainty up front could affect the play-calling of offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
"I try to be smart," Gase said. "I'm not going to do anything crazy if we've got a whole bunch of guys shifted around.
"But, for the most part, I'll hear (offensive line coach) Dave Magazu tell me, 'Call your game.' I think our guys have done a great job of sticking with what our game plan was, and whoever is playing certain positions, we make the adjustment, we roll."
Iron man:
Before missing the past two games with an ankle injury, safety Antrel Rolle had missed just one game in the previous nine years - back in 2009, when he was with the Arizona Cardinals.
"I know what it takes to get back," Rolle said. "You have to overwork yourself with this injury. Push yourself to the limit and hopefully things turn out good for Sunday."
Rolle was limited in Thursday's practice.
Safety first:
In the wake of Kyle Fuller's coverage struggles against the Lions, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked if the 2014 first-round pick would be a better fit at safety.
"I haven't seen that yet," Fangio said, "but maybe in the future that could be a topic for discussion - not now."
Injury report:
In addition to center Hroniss Grasu (neck), linebacker Shea McClellin (knee) and defensive lineman Bruce Gaston (illness) did not practice.
Besides offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (shoulder), guards Patrick Omameh (ankle) and Matt Slauson (knee, shoulder) were limited.
For the Vikings, running back Adrian Peterson (hip, finger, ankle) and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (knee, ankle) did not practice.
Extra points:
The home team is 22-4 in the last 26 meetings between the Bears and Vikings. Minnesota hasn't won at Soldier Field since 2007.
Sunday's game at Soldier Field is the Bears' only home game in a seven-week stretch. They travel to San Diego and St. Louis for their next two games, and they were on the road against the Chiefs and Lions before last week's bye.
The Vikings are tied for second in points allowed and have not permitted more than 23 points in any game. The Bears are tied for 31st in points allowed and have allowed at least 26 points in four of six games.