LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Although not by plan, the Chicago Bears are getting some good news in the next-man-up category.

Losing linebacker Lance Briggs with a groin injury and cornerback Kyle Fuller to a knee injury left the Bears’ defense shorthanded in Sunday’s come-from-behind, 21-10 win over Tampa Bay.

The Bears played undrafted rookie cornerback Al Louis-Jean and second-year linebacker Jonathan Bostic.

They weren’t the only young players to step up. Defensive end Cornelius Washington recorded his first sack, Damien Bass had a sack and forced fumble and nickel back Demontre Hurst got a fumble forced inside the Bears’ 10 in the second half with the Bucs threatening.

Louis-Jean has played when Fuller had other injuries; and, at 6 feet 1, the former Boston College player is the ideal height.

“He’s competitive, he’s been physical, he’s gone in and tackled, gone hip-to-hip with some good receivers in the times that he’s played,” coach Marc Trestman said. “That goes back to (the) New England (game) where he got some playing time as well.

“Another young guy working in there, he’s long, got good speed obviously, so we’re excited about him so he’ll continue to get work in practice and have opportunities in the games.”

–Defensive tackle Stephen Paea is picking the ideal time to step up considering his contract expires after the year.

Paea’s two sacks Sunday brought his total to a career-best six.

He’s not taking the credit for it, however.

“Just to be able to have the one-on-ones (with blockers),” is his explanation for the rise in prominence. “As a defense, if you have one-on-ones that’s a dream right there, especially in pass rush.

“What we did (against Tampa) was five-on-five, defensive stunts. We kept bringing it and bringing it and they couldn’t stop it.”

Paea says it’s easier to get the one-on-one matchups now for one reason.

“Guys like Jared Allen, Jeremiah Ratliff on the side,” he said. “Those O-lines, sometimes they don’t even look at me.”

–Perhaps it was the memory of the back-to-back 50-point games slapped on the Bears by New England and Green Bay, but Trestman wasn’t about to go crazy with praise for his defense after a season-high five sacks vs. the Bucs and matching the season’s best in points allowed.

“I do feel like we’re getting very good effort from the guys up front,” he said. “We’ve mixed up our rushes, we’re getting some five- and six-man rushes, some good four-man rushes.

“Guys are playing hard and working together. There’s a continuity between what’s going on up front and the back end.”