Dalton will play at least a quarter Saturday against Buffalo

After a brief hiatus with a groin injury, Justin Fields is expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. The injury was characterized as minor, and it didn't appear to be bothering Fields at all during practice Thursday.

Andy Dalton is expected to play about a quarter and a half against the Bills on Saturday. Dalton and the starting offense played only two possessions last week against Miami. Head coach Matt Nagy said Dalton is in store for much more action.

"It can always change," Nagy said. "I think if you get the ball (first) or don't get the ball, that dictates some of it, which was the same thing last week. But those two guys are going to get their fair share of reps as we go."

Help at tackle: Reinforcements have arrived for the offensive line. Free agent offensive tackle Jason Peters made his first appearance at Bears practice Thursday at Halas Hall, sporting a No. 71 jersey. The 18th-year veteran saw limited action as he got his feet wet.

Rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins had back surgery Wednesday and it went well, Nagy said.

Jenkins was the presumed starting left tackle after the Bears cut veteran Charles Leno days after the draft. When Jenkins arrived at training camp with a back injury, that plan was thrown into doubt.

Peters, 39, is a nine-time Pro Bowler, who played with Buffalo from 2004-08 and with Philadelphia from 2009-20. Peters played for current Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo for several years in Philadelphia.

"He's going to be a Hall of Fame tackle, going to be in the Hall of Fame someday," Nagy said this week. "But for right now, where he's at, he's a guy that when you watch the tape last year, you see a guy that still has a lot of game left in him."

Rookie tackle Larry Borom has been back at practice after a concussion. Borom and Peters could be vying for the starting left tackle position. Elijah Wilkinson took the majority of reps with the first-team offense Thursday.

The Bears are excited about Borom's potential as a tackle. The Bears drafted him in the fifth round, and think he could compete for a spot in the lineup.

"Again, we had second- and third-round grades on him," Nagy said. "So when you think about that, truly, like that's where we see this guy."

Practice report: The Bears had a short, light practice Thursday, their last of the week before Saturday's game.

Fields was picked off twice early in the day, and Dalton had a largely uneventful day. Nagy said he felt Dalton's practice Wednesday was one of his best.

Chris Lacy missed practice with a hip injury. Running back Ryan Nall (chest), offensive lineman Badara Traore (knee) and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (back) all remain out. Guard James Daniels (quad) and tight end Cole Kmet (hamstring) remain limited.