Injuries to running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson will give Bears fans a good look at an unfamiliar face this preseason. Undrafted rookie running back P.J. Pope is expected to get the majority of the carries in the preseason opener Friday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Since Cedric Benson was carted away last week with a shoulder injury, the sluggish Bears offense has slowed to a sloth-like crawl with Pope as its feature back.
Bears head coach Lovie Smith has decided to keep proven and seldom-used veteran Adrian Peterson on the bench.
“We feel Adrian is best used in punt coverage,” said Smith. “I don’t think it’s any secret the punt is our best offensive play.”
With the majority of the preseason opener expected to have Pope and the inept quarterback Kyle Orton in the backfield, Bears fans are sure to be flipping to faster-paced television.
“I invited some friends over for the game,” said Bears fan Eric Carlson. “But it’s looking more and more like we’re going to have to check the score in between episodes of ‘Antique Road Show.'”
