Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and still hopes to be ready for the season opener.
The Bears said that Urlacher had an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday morning to help relieve swelling in the knee and was back at training camp by 10 a.m.
He missed the team’s offseason training program after spraining the medial collateral ligament and partially spraining the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee during the final game last season against Minnesota.
“The treatment that we were giving Brian, he didn’t respond as well as we wanted it to,” coach Lovie Smith said after practice. “So we had it scoped this morning – a minor scope on his knee. Everything came out the way that we wanted it to.”
Urlacher was ready for the start of camp but has not practiced since July 31 and was away from the team recently for what were described as personal reasons. Even so, he said Sunday that he expects to be ready for the opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 9.
Urlacher told WFLD Fox-32 in Chicago on Monday that he didn’t know if he could have the surgery and return in two weeks.
“I am just going to keep resting right now,” he said. “I have never had a scope. I don’t know how that stuff works. This is the first time I have ever done anything to my knee, so I am kind of new to this. I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know how that works.”
Urlacher acknowledged that the knee could be an issue all season, adding, “I don’t see it getting any better during the season. We have to manage it – my reps in practice – and then get through Sunday.”
Outside linebacker Nick Roach has been moved into Urlacher’s starting spot at middle linebacker.
GIANTS DT ROGERS OUT FOR SEASON
New York Giants defensive tackle Shaun Rogers has a blood clot in his calf that will keep him out for the season, coach Tom Coughlin said.
Rogers, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who signed a one-year contract in April, played in the Giants’ exhibition game Friday against Jacksonville. He was then sent to New York on Sunday to see a team doctor, who diagnosed the clot.
Coughlin said that Rogers would take blood-thinning medication and would not be allowed to play while on it.
Defensive tackle Linval Joseph, Rogers’ training camp roommate, said Rogers started complaining about his leg Thursday after being leg-whipped by a teammate in practice.
“I feel bad because we just played the game together three days ago,” Joseph said. “We talk all the time, and to have a blood clot is serious.”
EXTRA POINTS
Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has whiplash-type symptoms, coach Andy Reid said, but no concussion after a midair collision with safety Nate Allen during Monday’s practice left Asomugha motionless on the turf for several minutes. Asomugha skipped Philadelphia’s Tuesday walkthrough. … Broncos right guard Chris Kuper broke his left forearm in practice and could miss up to six weeks. … Redskins defensive tackle Chris Neild is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. … The Steelers activated offensive tackle Max Starks from the physically unable to perform list and waived running back John Clay. … Jimmy Carr, a cornerback who won an NFL championship in 1960 with the Eagles, died in Indiana. He was 79. After he retired, Carr spent 24 years as an NFL assistant coach.
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