Secondary getting a healthy glow

The hobbled secondary is getting healthier.

Free safety and nickel back Danieal Manning and backup cornerback Zack Bowman both practiced Tuesday and are expected to play in the preseason finale Thursday night at 7 against the Browns at Soldier Field (WFLD-TV; WBBM Radio 780-AM).

Starting cornerback Charles Tillman "continues to get better each day," according to coach Lovie Smith, but he's looking more and more doubtful to play in the regular-season opener Sept. 13.

That's why the Bears on Tuesday signed veteran cornerback Rod Hood a day after he was cut by the Browns. Hood started 30 games for the Arizona Cardinals the past two seasons but was released in a salary cap move.

It would appear difficult for Hood to have much of an impact at this late stage, but he's confident.

"It's as difficult as you make it," Hood said. "Football is football. At the end of the day you have to be able to learn the system and adjust to where you're at. It's a great opportunity for me, and I'm staying positive."

Game time: After Thursday's game, 22 players must be trimmed from the current 75-man roster by 5 p.m. Chicago time on Saturday.

Many coaches find the final cutdown to be an unpleasant chore, but Bears coach Lovie Smith sees it a different way.

"It's an exciting time, really," Smith said. "Sometimes when you're under pressure, you see the best in guys, and that's what we're hoping. I've seen some players take advantage of the situation and really make an impression. We have a good idea about who will be on the 53-man roster, but there are still a couple of openings, and hopefully some of these guys will show us that they want to be there."

Since most starters will play less than a quarter, players fighting for roster spots will see significant time.

Standing pat: Quarterback Jay Cutler was asked if he thought the team would consider bringing in a veteran wide receiver considering the lack of experienced and proven talent at the position.

"It's not my call," he said. "I have no idea. But if I had to guess I would say no.

"I think if we would bring somebody in, it would be a veteran guy who has been in the league and understands what it's all about and could fit in well with this group. But right now I think we're going to go with the guys we've got."

Trust in Dusty: Coach Lovie Smith was asked if it was difficult to part ways with veteran nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek, who was waived/injured on Monday with a torn ACL in his right knee.

"It was tough to move on because he was injured," Smith said. "But he's always been one of our guys, and right now that's how I'm looking at it. He's injured, and he can't play. You never know what might happen in the future."

If, as expected, Dvoracek clears waivers, he could then be placed on the Bears' injured reserve list, where he would not count against the current 75-man roster or Saturday's final 53.

Time to go: Rookie wide receiver Derek Kinder was waived to make room for the signing of veteran cornerback Rod Hood.

Kinder was a seventh-round pick (251st overall) out of Pittsburgh where he caught 131 passes for 1,646 yards and 13 touchdowns.