Starting secondary assignments remain a mystery

Who's on third?

Or better yet, who's in the secondary?

Cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman and safety Danieal Manning all had full participation in Wednesday's practice. Yet Trumaine McBride and Nate Vasher are listed as the starting cornerbacks on the depth chart, and rookie Al Afalava remains the starter at strong safety, with Kevin Payne moving from strong safety to free safety in place of Manning.

"The depth chart right now doesn't really mean an awful lot," coach Lovie Smith said. "When we get to the game Sunday, that would say a lot. Could it change between now and then? It sure could. We'll go through the week and decide on a lot of positions."

Bowman had an exceptional off-season and training camp, outplaying any of the cornerbacks on the field, but he missed three weeks with a hamstring injury before starting the final preseason game. Tillman, who had mid-June back surgery and only returned to practice this week, is the Bears' best corner.

"He's making progress," Smith said of Tillman. "I've been encouraged all throughout. Nothing has changed."

Tillman was in a giddy mood after practice Wednesday, but he didn't say much to illuminate his situation.

"I'm awful," he joked. "I'm god-awful. I'm rusty."

Then he got serious. Well, more serious.

"I like to keep everyone guessing, and we'll know what I'm doing for Sunday on Sunday," Tillman said. "I still don't know if I'm playing. I might be playing. I might not be playing. To be continued, dot, dot, dot."

Manning was just as informative.

"I'm playing the whole game," he said.

But, when asked if he was starting, Manning said, "We'll see."

"But you are playing?" he was asked.

"Yes," he said.

So there you have it.

Gould is money: Robbie Gould is the third-most-accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, based on the minimum requirement of 100 kicks made, and he's first among active players.

Mike Vanderjagt, who played most of his games indoors with the Colts and Cowboys, is No. 1 at 86.5 percent (230 of 266). The Chargers' Nate Kaeding is second at 86.1 percent 118 of 137), and Gould is third at 85.9 percent (110 of 128).

"It would be awesome to be in the first spot," Gould said. "Obviously I've got a lot more to do, a lot more to accomplish. But that's great to be in the top tier of kickers ever. I'm supposed to go out there and make kicks; that's my job. So if I miss kicks, then I'm not really helping the team out by doing my job."

If Gould makes his first 6 FG attempts this season, he would move into the top spot.

Great expectations: Nose tackle Anthony Adams was delighted to learn Sports Illustrated predicts the Bears to play in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb. 7 in Miami.

"I agree with that wholeheartedly," Adams said with a smile.

Then he was informed SI pegs the Bears to lose the Super Bowl to New England.

"I don't agree with that," he said. "I expect us to get there and win it."

Adams has yet to reach the playoffs in his six-year career.

Healthy start: Defensive tackle Israel Idonije (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice. Every other player was a full participant.