After slow start, Olsen turns it on

Tight end Greg Olsen probably had his worst game ever in Week 2, when he lost 2 fumbles that were pivotal in the 20-17 loss to the Panthers.

Since then he's played like the guy the Bears thought they were getting when they took him in the first round of the 2007 draft. Last week he had a career-best 87 yards on 3 catches, and a week earlier he had a 19-yard TD grab. Olsen could be on the verge of surpassing 10-year veteran Desmond Clark as the Bears' primary target at tight end.

"I don't know," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said when the question was posed. "I think it probably depends on the game. We still have a lot of confidence in Dez, and Dez is a good player. Greg is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and Kyle (Orton) has a lot of confidence in Greg. Greg is playing really fast right now, and as long as he continues to do that, which he will, we're going to try to get him the ball."

Olsen, who ran under 4.5 in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, has 13 catches this season for 181 yards, while Clark has 9 for 96. And Olsen's receiving yardage has gone up every game since Carolina, when his 2 catches produced just 7 yards and resulted in 2 turnovers.

"He's really bounced back strong," Orton said. "He's coming along well, and he's a huge matchup problem for people, obviously."

Welcome back: Lance Briggs, who has had more than his share of off-field problems over the years, was asked if he had any advice for Tommie Harris when the defensive tackle returned from last week's suspension.

"There's not a whole lot that I need to say to a Tommie Harris besides give him a hug and tell him that I'm glad that he's back," Briggs said. "We're all grown men here, and we handle our ups and downs the way that we're supposed to, especially the guys that are here on this team. I didn't really need to say anything to him. Tommie knows what happened. He knows what he's got to do and he knows what's going to be done."

Jekyll and Hyde: Wide receiver Rashied Davis believes Kyle Orton has the perfect demeanor for a quarterback.

"Calm and fiery," Davis said.

Huh?

"He's always calm in the huddle," Davis said, "but when he gets to the sideline, he's fired up. When we're talking about what's going on, he tries to keep us focused, keep our heads in the game. But in the huddle and on the field he's very calm."

Injury update: Cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nate Vasher both practiced without limitations Thursday and are expected to play Sunday.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris and linebacker Nick Roach were limited at practice and should play against the Falcons. Defensive tackle Anthony Adams and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd did not practice, and Lloyd isn't expected to play Sunday, but Adams might.

"Vasher's back," coach Lovie Smith said. "He had a good practice (Thursday) and should be available."

Even if Vasher plays, however, up-and-coming second-year corner Corey Graham will continue to get playing time, probably at Vasher's expense.

"If a player proves he can help us win, there's enough reps for everyone to go around," Smith said. "So hopefully we'll have Nate available, but even with Nate available, we plan on still playing Corey Graham."