DT Harris back for Bears
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris knows expectations are high for his return to the starting lineup Sunday at Soldier Field against Cleveland.
Harris sat out last Sunday's 45-10 loss to Cincinnati after missing an entire week of practice. At first, coach Lovie Smith tied the benching to a sore left knee, but afterward said he wanted to see Harris practice before playing.
"They're supposed to expect, that's what I got paid for," said Harris, who received a $40 million contract extension after the 2007 season. "If you give a guy a whole bunch of money to perform or you ran a Fortune 500 company and the guys didn't produce like he did, what are you supposed to do?"
Harris completed his third straight practice Friday with no ill effects.
"I'm confident that it helped him a lot," Smith said Friday about Harris' week off and full week of practice. "That was our plan, to put him in position where he could practice all week. He practiced all week. He's feeling good about the practices he's had and playing good this week."
Harris made the Pro Bowl following the 2006, '07 and '08 seasons and has had hamstring and knee problems since late in the 2006 season. Asked if his knee felt better now after a rest, Harris said, "I think somebody just made that up, so we'll just leave that alone."
Harris was asked if he was capable of returning to dominant form.
"What kind of question is that? Am I capable? I always feel like I'm capable," he said.
Teammates want to see Harris playing again like before.
"He's getting his body right," defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said. "I don't think he has been 100 percent healthy. But with that said, nobody's really healthy in this league. So we need him to give him what he can do."
Smith has been mum all week on possible lineup changes for the game with Cleveland. He wouldn't say whether Harris' return means defensive tackle Marcus Harrison returns to the bench or takes the starting nose tackle spot from Anthony Adams.
Ogunleye went through a full practice session Friday for the first time this week after suffering a right ankle injury last week. He will start Sunday.
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