Olsen's not wearing down

Many rookies, even the good ones, struggle to maintain their productivity late in the year, when the grind of the longer NFL season takes its toll.

But Bears first-round tight end Greg Olsen hasn't been adversely affected.

Olsen had 7 catches last week, his personal best in an impressive season that has him tied for third on the team in catches (28) and fourth in yards (298).

"Obviously, I haven't played the whole season after the beginning (when he missed the first two weeks with a sprained knee), but I feel great," Olsen said. "My body feels good, and I feel energetic and ready to go. Each week is getting better and better."

For most college players, their season is winding down or soon to be approaching a slower period as they prepare for bowl games that are several weeks away. NFL players still have six games left plus playoff possibilities.

"I think what happens is (rookies) see the college season is coming to an end, and they say, 'Wow, last year I was done,' " Olsen said. "That's not the case (now). I enjoy coming here every day and look forward to the next string of games. There's a lot on the line, so that makes it exciting."

Olsen played prep football for his father, who has built a tremendously successful program at Wayne High School in New Jersey. From an early age he's been immersed in the game almost year round, and at Miami, it was a similar situation.

"Sitting around talking football, meetings, I don't ever get burned out from it. That won't be an issue," Olsen said. "(At Miami) we had training and weightlifting. We never had a break. We went right into the next season and weightlifting. It was never, 'Take the next four months off.' "

Ancient history: Tight end Desmond Clark began his NFL career as a sixth-round pick of the Broncos in 1999 and caught 51 passes for 566 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2001 in Denver. But he was waived the following preseason with a dislocated forearm because the Broncos were deep at tight end.

But Clark has no ax to grind with anyone in Denver, who the Bears host Sunday. It was so long ago, he doesn't even have that many memories. Still, he good-naturedly addressed the subject when pressed.

"It's been so long ago, man, let it go," he said. "(It's) a whole different team. I only know four people over there. I knew (head coach) Mike Shanahan, (linebacker) Ian Gold, (kicker) Jason Elam and (center) Tommy Nalen.

"That's the most aggravating question because after six years now, you would think that people would let that go. I let that go a long time ago. I told Mike (Shanahan) after the game in 2003 (a 19-10 Bears victory) when I was out there, that I appreciated him giving me the opportunity to play pro football, and since then I haven't even thought about it."

Injury report: Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) were the only players who missed Friday's practice, and while Vasher will sit out his eighth straight game, Harris will play again in spite of his injury.

"He's fine, he should be ready to go," coach Lovie Smith said of Harris. "The plan was to hold him out (Friday)."

Even if Vasher is able to go next week against the Giants, he won't play a full game because his lengthy absence has affected his endurance.

"That's a concern," coach Lovie Smith said. "When Nathan gets back, we won't throw him in. We'll ease him in like we normally do when guys come off of the injured list for that period of time."

Smith said he didn't expect the toe injury that kept wide receiver Bernard Berrian off the field Wednesday and Thursday to affect him in Sunday's game.