Urlacher out?

[Purple Gorilla]

This isn't good news for the Bears, but it pretty much even's the playing field. My Vikes are without our starting RT, both of our starting TE's, our starting RB and our short yardage specialist RB. We could probably use the help.

Associated Press
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi) middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5038) was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings in Minnesota, after being held out of Friday's practice because he aggravated the right hamstring he pulled in training camp.



Brian Urlacher (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5038)
Linebacker
Chicago Bearshttp://espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/statsid/s5038.jpgProfile (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5038)
2004 SEASON STATISTICSTotAstSoloFFSackInt19172110



"When you're dealing with those hamstrings, you never know for sure exactly how it will be," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.



Smith said Urlacher has a "50-50" chance of playing Sunday.



If Urlacher can't start, he will be replaced by Hunter Hillenmeyer (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6502), who has appeared in 15 games on special teams for the Bears since being signed off waivers last September.



Urlacher has never missed an NFL game and has started 64 straight regular-season games since becoming starting middle linebacker in the third week of the 2000 season.





The original hamstring injury occurred July 28 in Bourbonnais on the first day of practice this year. Urlacher missed every preseason game, but played in the Bears' season-opening 20-14 loss to Detroit and last week's 21-10 win over Green Bay.



Bears starting safety Mike Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5068) is out the rest of the season (Achilles), cornerback Charles Tillman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6371) (knee) is out seven to 10 weeks and defensive tackle Alfonso Boone (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5283) is gone for four to five weeks (knee).





Defensive tackle Tank Johnson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6806), who has a strained groin muscle, practiced Friday and is expected to play. However, he remained questionable on the injury list.

[BEARSFAN1 DaPIMP]

here is an article from chicagobears.com

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Brian Urlacher was held out of practice Friday after the right hamstring injury that forced him to miss the entire preseason flared up following Thursday's workout.


The Bears' middle linebacker is listed as questionable on the injury report but is nonetheless expected to play in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome.

"Yesterday after practice his hamstring got a little tight, so we kept him out of stuff today," said coach Lovie Smith.

If Urlacher is limited, backup Hunter Hillenmeyer could see spot duty. The Bears had planned on playing Hillenmeyer on occasion in the season opener, but Urlacher didn't miss a snap.

"I said that earlier we would get some (playing time) for Hunter and we weren't able to," Smith said. "We will just let the game really dictate how it goes."

Urlacher has not missed a regular season game since arriving as the ninth overall pick in the 2000 draft. His streak of 64 straight starts is the longest on the team.

The four-time Pro Bowler was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after registering 14 tackles and forcing a fumble that Mike Brown returned 95 yards for a touchdown in last Sunday's 21-10 victory at Green Bay.

There was some good news on the injury front Friday. Defensive tackle Tank Johnson, who's listed as questionable with a sore groin, practiced and is expected to play Sunday in Minnesota.

"Anytime they can practice on a Friday, you assume that everything will be OK," Smith said.

Smith confirmed that his starting lineup Sunday will include free safety Todd Johnson, cornerback Todd McMillon and strongside linebacker Joe Odom. Safety Bobby Gray, cornerback Nathan Vasher and strongside linebacker Marcus Reese will all see quality playing time as well.

Reese was upgraded from questionable to probable on Friday. He has not played since injuring his hamstring in the Bears' second preseason game Aug. 21 against San Francisco.

Guard Mike Gandy and safety Cameron Worrell both did not practice Friday and are questionable for Sunday's game with hamstring injuries.