LB corps only stronger with a healthy Tinisamoa
The Bears only had the benefit of Pisa Tinoisamoa's services for roughly one full game last season as two knee injuries limited him to parts of two games before landing him on injured reserve.
But the eight-year veteran is back at full strength and starting at strong-side linebacker. Along with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, Tinoisamoa helps form one of the team's strongest positions.
"We have another playmaker at the linebacker position," coach Lovie Smith said. "Pisa isn't a big plugger, (but) he can play in space. He has some DB-type skills as far as playing in space and breaking on the ball. He has good hands, he can rush the passer, and he plays with a lot of excitement.
"I can't recall a day that I have seen Pisa where he wasn't excited about playing football, (with a) smile on his face. He just loves the game. Hopefully (he'll) add a different dimension to our defense. Last year, when we did get a chance to see him play, he did some good things. We're expecting big things out of him this year."
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Tinoisamoa played in 59 straight games with the Rams at the beginning of his career, but he's missed 21 games over the past three seasons.
Back in the day: To commemorate their dominance in the 1940s, when they won NFL championships in 1940, '41, '43 and '46, earning their "Monsters of the Midway" nickname, the Bears will be wearing throwback jerseys from that era in home games this season against the Packers (Sept. 27) and Vikings (Nov.14).
The navy blue jerseys with orange numbers are available at the Bears ProShop store and on the team's website at chicagobears.com.
The Bears will also wear white jerseys this Sunday rather than their traditional navy blue home jerseys. The Bears requested the change months ago as a hedge against potentially hot weather. Forecasts for Sunday call for highs in the mid-70s.
Big assignment: Cornerback Zack Bowman expects to see a lot of Calvin Johnson, the Lions' 6-foot-5, 236-pound go-to wide receiver, who has 3,071 receiving yards on 193 receptions in his first three years in the league.
"Calvin is Calvin," the 6-foot-1, 193-pound Bowman said. "You've just got to keep him to a minimum. So that's what we're going to go out there and do, hopefully. It's a huge challenge."
Streaking along: Sunday against the Lions, long-snapper Patrick Mannelly will play in his 190th game with the Bears, tying Walter Payton for second in team history, one game behind Steve McMichael.
Mannelly and center Olin Kreutz, both were drafted in 1998 and are entering their 13th seasons. The only players with longer careers with the Bears are linebackers Bill George (1952-65) and Doug Buffone (1966-79), who each spent 14 years in Chicago.
Injury update: Linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle) was still somewhat limited during practice Thursday, but he expects to be on the field Sunday.
Safety Craig Steltz (ankle) continues to improve and had limited participation in practice, as did tight end Desmond Clark, who also has an ankle injury but is expected to play. Lions starting middle linebacker DeAndre Levy (groin) did not practice and free safety Louis Delmas (groin) was limited.