Herniated disc sacks Williams

So much for first-round draft choice Chris Williams winning the starting left tackle job in time for the season opener.

Williams underwent surgery for a herniated disc in his lower back early Thursday morning and will be out indefinitely. Bears spokesman Scott Hagel said the team plans to keep Williams on the final 53-man roster but had no timetable for his return.

The injury occurred early on the second day of practice, July 24, and was initially treated as back spasms. After the muscle injury subsided and Williams still showed no improvement, further tests revealed the herniated disc. The Bears compared Williams' injury to one that cornerback Charles Tillman suffered after Super Bowl XLI. He was not cleared for a full return to contact for more than three months..

Even if the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Williams returns in a few weeks, which is extremely optimistic, he'll have missed all but the first 2 hours of training-camp practice plus all four preseason games. It's more likely Williams would miss at least a month or longer, and the injury could potentially wipe out his rookie season.

The surgery was performed by Drs. Srdjan Morkovic and Mark Bowen.

The Bears' plan was for Williams to move into the left tackle spot during the preseason and be an opening-day starter on Sept. 7 at Indianapolis. Now it appears veteran backup John St. Clair will be the Bears' left tackle, with journeyman Terrence Metcalf at guard, although he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday and did not play in Thursday night's preseason opener. Josh Beekman, who played in just one game last season as a rookie, started for Metcalf. Anthony Oakley has also gotten first-team reps in Metcalf's absence.

Neither Oakley nor Beekman have never started a regular-season game, and they've played in just four between them.

Little big man: Last year, as a rookie, third-round pick Garrett Wolfe led the Bears in preseason rushing yards with 104, even though he averaged just 2.7 yards per carry. He also led in receptions with 11.

Thursday night, Wolfe got off to another fast start, busting a 42-yard run and scoring with a 25-yard reception in a five-play span in the third quarter.

Down and out: In addition to offensive tackle Chris Williams (back), and left guard Terrence Metcalf (knee) who out indefinitely, strong-side linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (hip) was held out of Thursday's game, and Jamar Williams started in his place.

The Bears' other inactives were nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek (calf), and running back Kevin Jones (knee).

Running back Matt Lawrence was waived.