Dec. 01--Upon reviewing Thursday's 34-17 loss to the Lions, Bears rookie safety Brock Vereen reached a predictable conclusion. In surrendering 383 passing yards, the secondary never made the impact it desired.
"We had opportunities to make plays, we just didn't make them," Vereen said Sunday. "You're not going to win games that way."
Vereen knows he was culpable for several missed opportunities. Forced into extended action and logging 64 defensive snaps after starting safety Chris Conte left the game with an eye injury, Vereen struggled on the back end.
He was slow getting over to help on Calvin Johnson's first TD grab, a 26-yarder on a skinny post in the second quarter.
Cornerback Kyle Fuller hit Johnson as the ball arrived yet Vereen ran by the Lions receiver.
There were several other instances in the loss in which Vereen didn't display the physical play the Bears need. That will no doubt be a point of emphasis for the rookie.
"Physicality is a point of emphasis with all of our players," coach Marc Trestman said. "It's the No. 1 thing we talk about in terms of playing the game. ... We can do better. Brock can do better."
Added defensive coordinator Mel Tucker: "On defense (nowadays), there's a lot of talk about things you can't do anymore. But you can hit. So we need to be able to do that."
Injury updates: With a second consecutive Thursday game coming, the Bears returned to practice Sunday with five starters sidelined during the portion of practice that was open to the media. Cornerback Tim Jennings, receiver Alshon Jeffery, right guard Kyle Long, defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff and Conte were all held out.
The Bears aren't mandated to issue an injury report until after Monday's practice and didn't provide details on any of those players. Ratliff missed Thursday's loss in Detroit with a knee injury while Conte and Jennings (groin) both left that game with injures. Updates on Jeffery and Long will be revealed Monday.
Canton-bound? Jared Allen has only been a teammate of Lance Briggs' since March. But he also played against Briggs and the Bears twice per year for six seasons. So when asked Sunday whether he considered Briggs a Hall of Famer, Allen didn't hesitate.
"In my book, I'd say so," Allen said.
Briggs, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was placed on Injured reserve on Friday with a groin injury. And with his contract expiring, there's no guarantee he'll continue playing in 2015.
Still, Allen believes Briggs is worthy of pro football's highest honor given the impact he and Brian Urlacher had for so long with the Bears.
"I remember those guys taking over games and changing games and winning games," Allen said. "Even that 2006 season, they went to the Super Bowl largely because of the play of those two guys. In my opinion, yeah, Lance is (a Hall of Famer)."
Rich Campbell contributed to this report.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
Twitter @danwiederer
