Chicago Bears WR Eric Weems started training camp watching, but his efforts in Thursday's practice indicate he's ready to begin playing.
Weems caught a few passes in a scrimmage, including one for a big play, and flashed some of the speed he'd been unable to show since an ankle sprain the first day of practices.
"I feel like myself," he said. "The coaches gave me some time to get right and I feel like I'm good to go and ready to perform."
Washington Redskins in Saturday's second preseason game at Soldier Field.
Devin Hester on kickoff returns in addition to playing gunner on punt coverage. Weems takes a lot of pride in the gunner role.
"The key is to beat the man in front of you," he said. "You’ve got to have a lot of skill to do that, to beat two guys at one time."
RG3 fan: Coach Lovie Smith eagerly looks forward to the matchup against Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins. "His college coach (Baylor's Art Briles) is an old high school friend of mine, so of course I’ve followed them and him quite a bit," Smith said. "He can do everything you want a quarterback to do. I think he had over a 145 quarterback rating in the 14 plays he played last week. He’ll be a good challenge for us."
Turnover machine: LB Geno Hayes, thrust into the lineup with starters because of Brian Urlacher's knee surgery, has four INTs in four NFL seasons and showed he can do it in a new defense Thursday with two in practice. He's playing Nick Roach's strong side linebacker spot while Roach fills in for Urlacher.
Weighty issue: Starting DE Israel Idonije is uncertain whether his role of playing inside at three-technique defensive tackle in the nickel defense will cause the team to ask him to gain weight again. Idonije hasn't been inside for three years, but when he was moving between tackle and end he had to lose 30 pounds and gain it back, then lose it.
Idonije noticed the difference inside at tackle immediately when he moved back their from end.
"The first couple days it's just getting back into it, the timing of it," he said. "You know, things happen a little quicker inside."
In particular, he noted how offensive linemen get their hands on him faster. "You've just got to bring your hands quicker, he said.
Happy returns: Guard Chilo Rachal has returned to practice after missing time with an unspecified injury, while linebacker Jabara Williams, out since early in camp with a hamstring pull, is also back.
Going home: The Bears have a walk-through closed to the public Friday at Bourbonnais, then break camp. After Saturday's game, they begin closed practices at Halas Hall on Monday.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.
