The Chicago Bears got linebacker Brian Urlacher back at practice Monday for the first time since July 31, but questions about his injured knee could linger until the second game of the season -- if not beyond.

"He had a good first day back," coach Lovie Smith said. "He's got to get in shape."

Urlacher wouldn't talk with media after practice. Normally Urlacher and linebacker Lance Briggs are made available to media on the Thursday before games.

The eight-time Pro Bowler went through a full practice with a brace on his knee and players saw the old Urlacher -- right away at least.


"He's back in the flow," LB Nick Roach said. "We're still a long way away from Sunday, but just having him back is definitely positive."

Roach had been replacing Urlacher in the middle and moved back to his strong side spot Monday. He also took some plays in the middle. 

Facing the Colts Sunday means going against a rookie passer with a reputation in Andrew Luck. The Bears would have been hard-pressed to play their traditional cover-2 scheme without Urlacher in the middle. They are 7-15 when he isn't starting in the middle for them since he came into the league in 2002.

"To have him on the field, teams just look at you different," nickel back D.J. Moore said. "I mean, this is not a knock on Nick, but when Nick is in there teams may have a little more confidence."

Urlacher did give an interview to FOX television prior to the weekend and said the knee, "just isn't the same anymore" and that it is, "never going to be the same."

Urlacher was reported to have traveled to Germany in the off-season to undergo a non-invasive procedure not approved by the FDA. He then aggravated his knee in training camp and had it scoped. 

The smartest approach to Urlacher's return might be bringing him along all week and then back for the Sept. 13 game at Green Bay. But he isn't keen on that idea.

"We have a day off Monday (Sept. 10) and our practices before that game will be quick anyway," he told Fox. "There is not a whole lot that is going to happen. We already have our gameplan in, I think. Because we play Green Bay twice a year, we know what they're doing, they know what we're doing."

The question is not about preparation for the Packers but the fact that the game only gives him three full days of recovery time after the Sunday contest with the Colts.

If he's able to pass both those tests, the questions about the knee may fade away to a large degree.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.