LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Playing without their first four linebackers, the Chicago Bears held Atlanta to the lowest opposing point total since Marc Trestman became head coach during a 27-13 victory Sunday.

Lance Briggs (ribs), D.J. Williams (neck), Jonathan Bostic (back) and Shea McClellin (hand) all missed the game, putting the spotlight on second-year linebacker Khaseem Greene, undrafted rookie Christian Jones and Darryl Sharpton, who has been a Bear since Sept. 24.

“There was a lot of change going on and unknown going on during the week with Lance and with D.J.,” Trestman said. “D.J practiced, so that was a late addition. Phil (Emery, the general manager) was involved in helping us move some people around and get some people up. But it was simply just hard work and their preparation.

“I know there was a lot of extra time spent, (linebackers coach) Reggie (Herring) with the linebackers, up through Saturday and into Sunday to get them ready. Their meetings went very well, just talking to Reggie the times that they were in together at different times that were unrelated to the team being together. But just overall very, very good cooperation with everybody to get it done, and the guys who weren’t playing were certainly helpful as well.”

Greene made a team-high eight tackles in his first start of the year and fifth start overall. Jones was in on four tackles in his first NFL start. Sharpton made five tackles, a quarterback hit and a pass deflection as he often blitzed. He’s no stranger to starting, since he’d started 19 games for Houston from 2010-2013.

Linebacker Willie Young now has a league-high seven sacks after recording two more against Atlanta.

“No. 1 he came in here and he was a projected starter before we got Jared (Allen), and when Jared came in he never flinched,” Trestman said. “He really embraced the opportunity to play with Jared and learn from Jared and so his reps, because of the way we’re moving people around, are not as much as they probably would have been when he initially got here.

“But he’s been all about team. His energy is consistent each and every day. As you see him in the locker room he’s got a smile on his face, he’s alive and when he plays he plays all out and he’s a charismatic guy who, I think, his play and his energy resonate throughout the defensive meeting room and on the field.”

Young also has patented his bass fishing celebration after sacks now, much like Allen has his rodeo lasso routine.

Defensive back Demontre Hurst was another part of the defensive reserve corps that produced with others injured. The Bears had hoped to have Sherrick McManis available for the nickel coverage scheme after he recovered from a quad injury last week, but then he suffered a knee injury in practice.

So Hurst played nickel and made his first career interception.

“He’s a very smart player,” Trestman said. “He had a very good training camp. He was always around the football. He does it in practice, as well. He had an opportunity yesterday and he made the most of it.”

Defensive tackle Stephen Paea has four sacks in a contract year, and there’s one major reason he’s having the impact he is in his fourth year.

“The best part I’m seeing right now is he’s stayed healthy,” Trestman said. “He’s been able to play, and that’s something he hasn’t been able to do.”

Paea always seemed to be plagued by nagging types of injuries in the past, everything from turf toe to shoulder injuries and hamstrings.

“So we’ll keep our fingers crossed that that continues because he’s been a factor inside, he’s been given some of the one-on-ones inside with other guys getting doubled, he’s created some internal pressure which has been very good,” Trestman said.

Meanwhile, in an effort to reload, the Bears elevated cornerback Terrance Mitchell to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, waived linebacker Terrell Manning and signed safety Shamiel Gary and tight end Jacob Maxwell to the practice squad.

Mitchell has been on the Bears practice squad all year after he was originally a seventh-round draftee by Dallas this year, out of Oregon. The Sacramento, Calif. native appeared in 40 games with 38 starts for Oregon, recording 144 tackles, seven interceptions — including one returned for a touchdown — four forced fumbles and 25 pass break-ups.

Maxwell was first signed this year by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana-Lafayette. The 6-4, 240-pound Pearl River, La., native was with Miami for five weeks.

Gary entered the NFL this season as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots out of Oklahoma State.