Urlacher Lost for the Season
By ANDREW GREINER
Updated 11:07 AM CST, Mon, Sep 14, 2009
Brian Urlacher is out for the season.
Urlacher told reporters Monday that he will not return from a wrist injury he suffered during the first quarter of last night’s Green Bay Packer’s game, in which the Bears lost 21-15. Urlacher had three tackles before he left the game.
Lovie Smith is expected to give more information on the linebacker's health at an afternoon press conference.
Urlacher is scheduled to have surgery on the wrist today, according to the Trib. Then doctors will know more about the extent the damage in the area, but wrist injuries historically have a long recovery time.
This is a major set back for the Bears, who had hoped that a healthy, re-energized Urlacher would lead the team back to form.
Hunter Hillenmeyer will replace the 31-year-old linebacker in the short term, but the team may consider moving outside linebacker Lance Briggs into the middle spot, ESPN reports.
Urlacher isn't the only linebacker that was hurt. New addition Pisa Tinoisamoa sprained his posterior cruciate ligament and may miss up to a month. The linebacking corps was supposed to be a point of strength for the Bears, but now they may be forced to turn to available free agents to shore up the defense.
One option that has been mention is retired Tampa Bay Bucaneer Derrick Brooks.
Brooks, a perennial pro-bowler during his career, was cut earlier this year by the Bucs. He told the the Score 670-AM this morning that he didn't want to jinx anything. But his agent said he'd be happy to join one of his former Bucs coaches, Lovie Smith.
``He would love to play for the Bears,’’ said Brooks’ agent, Roosevelt Barnes. ``He had a great relationship with Lovie and that would be exciting to him.’’
First Published: Sep 14, 2009 9:44 AM CST
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