The Sports Xchange

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears passing game could take on an added dimension this week if wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is able to go Sunday against Kansas City.

He hasn’t played since the five-catch effort against Green Bay in the opener.

“You’re talking about a quality wide receiver in the league,” coach John Fox said. “Any time you’re missing a guy who is, quote, a starter, there’s a reason he’s a starter.

“It’s (injuries) problematic. When you look around the league, it’s happened to a variety of football teams (at receiver).”

Quarterback Jay Cutler remains limited in practice, but did not aggravate his injured hamstring further against Oakland and will get plenty of rest much of the week in anticipation of playing at Kansas City.

–The ankle injury to Antrel Rolle that has left the Bears with rookie Adrian Amos as the most experienced safety within this system isn’t causing Fox any lost sleep.

The Bears had to play Harold Jones-Quartey at the other safety spot.

At this point in the team’s development, Fox could care less what players did before or their reputations. He is focused solely on what they do now.

“We’re kind of performance-based,” he said. “There’s really no limitations, eligibility-wise, whether you’re a first-year or a 12th-year guy. It’s just about how you perform. Young guys have worked hard at their craft and got us out of the game.”

Still, the Bears aren’t calling Jones-Quartey any sort of potential long-term replacement for Rolle.

“He needs more practice,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said.

–The offensive line situation is likely to remain in a state of flux all week due to the season-ending broken leg suffered by Will Montgomery, who went on injured reserve. Matt Slauson moved over during the Oakland game from left guard, but the Bears are using both Hroniss Grasu and Slauson at center in practice this week and will make a decision late in the week.

“Like everywhere: who plays the best, who practices the best. They earn it,” Fox said when deciding on whether to go with a rookie, Grasu, or Slauson who has one game of center experience. “They earn their opportunities, they earn their reps, they earn whether they start or don’t start.”

–The Bears defense hasn’t yet run into a team with a running threat like the Chiefs have with Jamaal Charles.

Against Seattle, Marshawn Lynch was injured and Arizona’s Andre Ellington was hurt. In Week 1, Eddie Lacy had been battling an ankle injury but played and Green Bay relied mostly on the pass. Oakland’s Latavius Murray is unproven and the Bears shut him down.

The Chiefs, though, run their offense through Charles.

“His speed, No. 1, you know, he’s got really good running instincts, if he gets in the open field, he’s a tough guy to bring down,” Fangio said. “He’s one of the top backs in the league.

“It’s a challenge. He’s a big part of their passing game. And he’s real fast and he can get matched up on some linebackers at times.”

NOTES: Among those not practicing Wednesday were WR Eddie Royal (ankle), OT Jermon Bushrod (concussion, shoulder), G Patrick Omemeh (ankle), CB Sherrick McManis (hamstring) and S Antrel Rolle (ankle). Among those who practiced on a limited basis Wednesday were WR Alshon Jeffery (hamstring), NT Jeremiah Ratliff (ankle), DE Will Sutton (elbow), CB Alan Ball (groin), P Pat O’Donnell (knee) and T Kyle Long (back, ankle).