Dec. 11--Matt Forte was asked point-blank Thursday just how he was feeling, being suddenly so old and all. Thursday marked Forte's 30th birthday, that red-flag age for NFL running backs where a steep production decline often begins and when, the talking heads say, even the most productive backs suddenly lose significant value.
Forte's state of mind on his first day at 30?
"I'm dead," the eighth-year veteran quipped. "Aww man! I feel like I'm so old. Yesterday I was 29, running around at practice. Today it took me, like, one extra minute to get warmed up. It's taking a toll on me."
Of course no one is expecting Forte to deteriorate overnight. With only four more regular season games left on his current contract, the Bears will have to decide this offseason just how, if at all, Forte fits into their future plans. This season Forte has averaged 3.9 yards per carry and has 676 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in his nine starts. He also has started to share more of the workload with rookie Jeremy Langford and second-year back Ka'Deem Carey.
In last week's loss to the 49ers, Forte totaled 84 yards on 21 carries and had a 26-yard run called back by a holding penalty.
Bears coordinator Adam Gase continues to appreciate how consistently solid Forte is as a runner, a pass-catcher and a pass-blocker. He has few worries about his age.
"I just know for us right now he's playing really well," Gase said. "He's doing some things that I haven't seen many running backs be able to do because he's so good in all three areas."
Hold on: The Bears were flagged six times for holding in Sunday's loss to the 49ers and now have committed a league-high 33 holding infractions this season, including special teams.
It can be a challenge, Gase asserted, to coach that tendency away in practice.
"The problem is a lot of time in practice you don't see it (occurring)," he said. "It is a different speed on game day not going against the scout team. And sometimes defenses do things where you get surprised and you lose a little bit of your technique."
Gase said the Bears extend their individual drill periods in practice to fine-tune footwork, hand placement and other details to keep their technique polished. Still, greater execution is desired on game days.
Injury updates: Tight end Zach Miller is playing with a broken rib, a league source confirmed. Miller was limited at Thursday's practice. He and rookie Khari Lee will take on added responsibility after the Bears placed Martellus Bennett on injured reserve this week.
Also limited Thursday were Eddie Royal (knee), Tracy Porter (ankle), Sam Acho (shoulder) and Antrel Rolle (knee). Marquess Wilson (foot) and Pernell McPhee (knee) did not practice.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
