Smith confident Williams will catch on

Free-agent wide receiver Roy Williams has yet to catch a pass, but coach Lovie Smith says he's making progress, even if it's not discernible.

“I wouldn't use ‘work in progress,'” Smith said when asked if that phrase summed up Williams. “Roy is getting better. He hasn't been in the Chicago Bears system long. We've seen progress.

“Though we didn't see a lot (Monday night), we see it behind the scenes, and eventually it'll show up on the field.”

Fifteen Bears have caught at least one pass in the first two preseason games. Williams was targeted three times Monday night. One was a clear drop, another could have been caught, and a third was tipped away by a defender.

“He's getting there,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “He missed those first five days of camp (as did all free agents), and we're trying to catch him back up to speed and get him in shape and get him where he needs to be.

“But the desire's there, and the want-to is there. He just needs a little bit more time with us. We're working him in there and we were trying to get the ball to him early (vs. the New York Giants).

“But overall I think that whole group's coming along well.”

We like Adam:Adam Podlesh, who was signed to a five-year, $10 million contract as an unrestricted free agent that included a $2 million signing bonus, split the punting duties with undrafted South Carolina rookie Spencer Lanning on Monday night.But coach Lovie Smith said the job is not up for grabs.#8220;Adam's our punter,#8221; Smith said, #8220;but everyone has to perform and everybody in camp is getting an opportunity. Spencer Lanning has punted the ball well, and we wanted to give him an opportunity too, but Adam's our punter.#8221;Each player punted three times. Podlesh had a gross average of 43.0, compared to Lanning's 42.0.The rookie had one of his punts unavoidably blocked when Giants linebacker Greg Jones burst through the middle of the line virtually untouched.Not worth it:Bears nickel corner D.J. Moore felt badly that Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas suffered a season-ending torn ACL Monday night.#8220;That stuff is terrible. You've got to knock some of these (preseason) games down or do something because your best players on the field are getting hurt,#8221; Moore said.#8220;We're getting what, $1,000 a week or something? And the teams are making #8230; I mean these are regular-season ticket (prices) they're selling. So at least let them get hurt for a little bit more money.#8221;Staying the course:Even though the Bears have just five days between their last game and their next game, most starters are expected to play into the second half, as has been the custom under Lovie Smith.#8220;This is our game plan week,#8221; Smith said. #8220;Traditionally the third game of the preseason is one where you play the guys quite a bit. We had planned on doing that. We're staying with our schedule and that was a part of it.#8221;