August 10, 2007
Benson prepared for first preseason test of career
By Larry Mayer
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Cedric Benson has played dozens of football games in Texas, having starred at Lee High School in Midland and the University of Texas. But Saturday night’s preseason opener in Houston will be a new experience for him.
The Bears running back has yet to play in an NFL preseason game, missing the entire slate due to a contract impasse as a rookie in 2005 and a shoulder injury sustained early in training camp last summer.
Cedric Benson has rushed for 919 yards and 6 TDs in 24 career games with the Bears.
Facing the Texans at Reliant Stadium will give the third-year pro a chance to finish his runs, something that he isn’t able to do without live tackling in practice.
“That’ll be good, and also to get tackled and take it down to the ground,” Benson said. “Get punished and keep focused on holding onto the football. It’s different when you’re getting tackled and taken to the ground. There are a lot of things that come along with it, and this is all preparation for the big show.”
Benson will only play sparingly against the Texans, but that won’t be the case during the regular season with the 2005 first-round pick replacing Thomas Jones as the Bears’ feature back.
Benson’s primary goal Saturday is to “leave the game healthy.”
“I’m sure everything else will take care of itself,” he said. “The physical part, the pounding part, I don’t worry about that. I’ve been playing football for years and this is what I do. What’s important now is being able to be out there week-in and week-out.”
Opportunity knocks: Mark Bradley led the NFL in receiving during the preseason as a rookie in 2005 with 17 receptions for 331 yards and 1 touchdown.
But the second-round pick from Oklahoma seemingly has to prove that he can stay healthy after missing nine games with a torn ACL in 2005 and five contests with an ankle injury last year.
“The preseason is a steppingstone I have to take for the beginning of the season,” Bradley said. “I’m taking it as far as getting back into game mode, just getting in a comfort zone, not having errors and just going out there and flying around.”
Bradley is competing for playing time at a deep position that features starters Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian, slot receiver Rashied Davis and the dynamic Devin Hester.
“I’m just going to do what I can personally,” Bradley said. “I can’t worry about what Moose does and worry about what Bernard does. They’re two good players. I can’t sit here and say that I’m going to try to push them out of their positions. I’m just going to let me play handle that and let the chips fall where they may.”
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Benson prepared for first preseason test of career - Chicago Bears
Benson prepared for first preseason test of career
Benson prepared for first preseason test of career
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