The health of linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa no longer appears to be a major issue as the Bears prepare for postseason play.
Tinoisamoa, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Dec. 3 to clean up articulating cartilage damage, saw his most extensive action since the procedure during Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Packers. He stepped back into his familiar role at strong-side linebacker after starter Nick Roach suffered a minor left shoulder sprain on the game's first play.
"It's always a bummer when somebody goes down, but I think it's just our position,"
Tinoisamoa said, making light of the many injuries at linebacker. "One person gets hurts, the other one gets healthy. We're just going to have to lean on each other."
"As for me, my knee held up well. It's going to be what it is, but it's not sore right now. The good thing is I'm at a point where I'm not thinking about it so much."
Tinoisamoa, who missed four regular-season games, is expected to regain his starting job for the playoffs, although Roach should be fully recovered in time for the Jan. 16 home game. But the Bears will need more of a contribution from Tinoisamoa, who had just two tackles against the Packers and took full blame for the game-deciding, 1-yard touchdown reception by tight end Donald Lee from Aaron Rodgers.
"I was way too aggressive on that play,"
Tinoisamoa said. "The intent was good, but my technique was bad."
With Tinoisamoa's knee feeling better and the injuries to Roach, Chris Harris and Major Wright all minor, the Bears should be 100 percent for the playoffs. Wright got kicked in the lower leg Sunday, while Harris sustained a shoulder stringer late in the game.
"To have this bye week is important, to rest up a little bit as much as anything,"
coach Lovie Smith said.
Extra points: Devin Hester finished with a 17.1-yard punt return average, the highest in NFL history among players with 30 or more punt returns. Hester had 33 returns for 564 yards with three touchdowns. … Matt Forte finished 10th in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,616. Arian Foster of the Texans led the league with 2,220. … The Bears finished second in the league in rushing defense (90.1 yards per game) and ninth in total defense (314.3). … Corey Graham ended the season as the Bears' leading tackler on special teams with 25. … The Bears are expected to schedule a workout with Andy Fantuz (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), who led the Canadian Football League in receiving (87 receptions, 1,380 yards, six TDs) last season.
