When right guard Terrence Metcalf ran to the line of scrimmage Monday morning with the No. 1 offensive line, he carried an unspoken message: Results will impress coach Lovie Smith more than reputation.
“We’re a new staff rolling people in, and if you play well, you get more reps, and that’s what’s happening with Terrence,” Smith said.
For the time being, Metcalf edged ahead of eight-time Pro Bowler Ruben Brown, who has had some soreness. Smith downplayed the move and said he was only trying different line combinations. But it underscored that Smith will sift through the depth chart to find the best 11 players on each side of the ball, regardless of experience.
“All those guys are playing at such a high level, it’s a win-win situation,” left guard Rex Tucker said. “To me, they’re all starters.” …
In Monday afternoon’s non-contact practice, Metcalf moved over to left guard with the No. 1 offense as Tucker sat out. …
Smith canceled Tuesday morning’s practice, giving the team one session at 7:10 p.m. . . .
The Bears spent 4 1/2 hours on the practice field in Monday’s two practices with temperatures in the upper 80s and humidity blanketing Bourbonnais. Offensive coordinator Terry Shea, already suffering from laryngitis, didn’t let that stop him from screaming at an official during a two-minute drill. Shea’s voice needs Tuesday morning off as much as the players’ legs do. . . .
Quarterback Craig Krenzel threw with more authority Monday morning and executed his ball-handling on fakes well. …
Dare we say that wide receiver David Terrell has taken a workmanlike approach to practice so far and strung together a few days’ worth of consistent showings? After one difficult catch, for instance, Terrell merely set the ball down, popped up and returned quietly to the huddle. …
It doesn’t just happen in baseball: Backup quarterback Jonathan Quinn was given the afternoon off to rest his arm. …
With Justin Gage and Jamin Elliott out with sore hamstrings, Ahmad Merritt practiced with the first three-receiver set. …
Rex Grossman’s most impressive play of the day came when he sold a handoff left, concealed the ball and took off untouched on a bootleg right during a short-yardage drill. …
For the second straight day, a hook-and-ladder during the afternoon practice stirred the crowd. Receiver Daryl Ford caught the ball about 15 yards downfield and pitched it to a trailing Adrian Peterson.
![An extra-alarm fire destroyed a home and damaged two others on the near West side Wednesday night, though fire officials said no one was injured in the blaze. The fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. on the 1300 block of West 16th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood, according to a social media update from the Chicago Fire Department. Officials quickly upgraded the blaze to a 2-11 fire. Neighbors who clustered around the scene Wednesday night said the home had been under construction and appeared to be vacant. Although the fire was declared struck out at 9:30 p.m. in a social […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ctc-l-structure-fire-041724-06.jpg?w=525 "An extra-alarm fire destroyed a home and damaged two others on the near West side Wednesday night, though fire officials said no one was injured in the blaze. The fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. on the 1300 block of West 16th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood, according to a social media update from the Chicago Fire Department. Officials quickly upgraded the blaze to a 2-11 fire. Neighbors who clustered around the scene Wednesday night said the home had been under construction and appeared to be vacant. Although the fire was declared struck out at 9:30 p.m. in a social […]")
