Bears’ Matt Forte says he’s ready for Cowboys; Lovie more cautious
BY JOE COWLEY jcowley@suntimes.com September 26, 2012 10:02PM
Chicago Bears' Matt Forte (22) tries to break away from Green Bay Packers' D.J. Smith (51) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Updated: October 29, 2012 6:42AM
Bears coach Lovie Smith likes to say he’s a ‘‘glass half-full’’ type of guy, but even Smith isn’t writing running back Matt Forte’s name in pen in the starting lineup.
Forte (right ankle) went through practice Wednesday, but Smith wouldn’t say he’s ready for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
‘‘We have said he’s making progress every day, which he is, and it’s no more than that,’’ Smith said. ‘‘But I would hold off on . . . he’s got a long ways to go still. But he is making progress, and hopefully we can get him out there.’’
Forte was injured in the Week 2 loss at Green Bay, then missed the Bears’ win against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, with backup Michael Bush getting the start.
Forte knows which way he’s leaning.
‘‘As long as you know how to take care of your body, that’s how you get back on the field,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve had ankle injuries before and know how to work with them. It’s just you have to want to get back on the field.’’
That’s especially true with Bush working through a shoulder injury and also somewhat questionable for Monday.
‘‘It’s real big, especially for me,’’ Forte said. ‘‘I’ve missed a game, so it’s real big to get in sync with the running game as well as the passing game so we can help the defense out. The defense has been playing lights-out. So we need to put a lot of points on the board so they can at least rest a little bit and continue to play good.’’
Asked point-blank if he thought he’d be ready, Forte said, ‘‘Uh-huh, yeah.’’
