Ogunleye says pride must kick in

Strapping it up twice in four days can be mentally fatiguing as well as physically demanding, especially when your playoff hopes are all but dead.

But it doesn't have to be that way, according to defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

"You can look at it that way or you can look at it positively, like there's still a chance, and it's a quick way to get the bad taste out of your mouth," Ogunleye said.

"No matter which way the season's going to end, guys have to really start showing up and using their pride as fuel to play well."

Ogunleye leads the Bears with 9 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries, and he's first among the linemen with 50 tackles. But overall the defense has been a huge disappointment, ranking 28th in total yards.

"The effort has been good," Ogunleye said. "We run to the ball. It's just that when we get there … I guess we've got to get there a little more angry, with a little more toughness.

"Little things like that. If maybe we're pushing a guy out of bounds, we (need to) hit him to get them out of bounds. Stuff like that."

Line takes a hit: Defensive tackle Anthony Adams, one of the most pleasant surprises this season on a disappointing defense, will miss Thursday's game with an elbow injury suffered during Sunday's loss to the New York Giants.

Adams has started seven straight games and is just 1 tackle behind Adewale Ogunleye for the team lead among linemen with 49. He recovered a fumble and had a half-sack last week, and his play has been solid all season.

"Anthony Adams has done some good things throughout," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.

With Tommie Harris and Darwin Walker battling injuries and ineffectiveness off and on for several weeks, Adams will be missed. Backup Antonio Garay will be active for the sixth time this season, and versatile Israel Idonije should see more snaps at tackle than at end.

Worry about yourself: The Bears allowed 175 rushing yards last week, and Giants quarterback Eli Manning said he was surprised the defense didn't make any adjustments.

Adewale Ogunleye didn't want to hear any of it.

"Eli, he's a guy that I really wouldn't take too much advice from," Ogunleye said. "He's really lucky that they got away with that win. He's a guy that's still learning."

Injury update: Offensive tackle Fred Miller returned to practice Tuesday on a limited basis after missing last week's game with a sprained ankle. If healthy, Miller will regain the starting spot from John St. Clair, who filled in last week.

Cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) was unable to practice and will miss his 10th straight game, but he hopes to return for the Monday night game at Minnesota on Dec. 17. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (shoulder) also was held out of practice but should play Thursday.