Bushrod not sure if he’ll play Sunday
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod, who had never suffered such a severe concussion, had plenty to think about during the 17 days before he returned to practice.
He was concerned ‘‘especially with everything that’s come out over the years” about head injuries.
“I know what I signed up for,” Bushrod said. “No one’s pushing me to be out here. I wanna be out here because I love this game.”
Still, he has people who depend on him.
“You’ve got kids, you’ve got a wife, you’ve got people that are counting on you to be there for the long haul,” he said.
That’s why Bushrod is happy he and the Bears took their time before he returned to practice after passing the league’s concussion protocol. It helped that his back and shoulder problems feel better, too, but he said he didn’t know if he would play Sunday after being limited Wednesday.
“I’m encouraged,” he said, “but we’re not going to push anything.”
He said Charles Leno, his replacement, has been lights-out in two starts.
Jeffery practices
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, recovering from a hamstring injury, returned to practice after not participating Friday and was listed as limited.
Coach John Fox said Jeffery’s availability Sunday in Detroit will not be affected by the Bears’ looming bye week.
“If they’re healthy, they play,” he said. “If they’re not, they won’t.”
Cubs win?
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who considers himself a good-luck charm for baseball teams, guaranteed— albeit with a smile— a Cubs World Series title.
“It’s in the bag, don’t even worry about it,” said Fangio, who watched three San Francisco Giants championships in his five years in the Bay Area. “Just like the Red Sox ended their curse [in 2004] by going through their archrival, the Yankees, in the play- offs, the Cubs have done the same. They went through the Cardinals.”
Bushrod, who said baseball is his first passion, is enjoying the ride, too: “The city’s electric, and the whole city’s behind them.’’
This and that
DeAndre Levy, the Lions’ star linebacker, will have hip surgery, the team announced, and could miss the rest of the season.
Safety Antrel Rolle (ankle), wide receiver Eddie Royal (ankle), linebacker Shea McClellin (knee) and cornerback Terrance Mitchell (hamstring) did not practice.
Linebacker Pernell McPhee (shoulder), guard Patrick Omameh (ankle), wide receiver Josh Bellamy (groin) and defensive linemen Jeremiah Ratliff (ankle), Will Sutton (elbow) and Ego Ferguson (knee) were limited.
As expected, the Bears re-signed quarterback David Fales to the practice squad.
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