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Bishop ‘coping’ with lost season; Benson to face former team

LB Desmond Bishop, who injured his hamstring in the preseason opener against San Diego and is out for the season, spoke to reporters on Tuesday and admitted it’s difficult to have to sit out the entire year.

“I’m coping,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do about it. It is what it is. I’m trying to adapt to the adage that everything happens for a reason. I’m coming along pretty good with that. I’m just hoping the guys do good and I’m with them in spirit.”

Bishop had surgery on the hamstring performed by team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie, and McKenzie told him it went well. There was talk before the roster was finalized of Bishop possibly going on injured reserve with the new designation to possibly return by season’s end, but Bishop said Dr. McKenzie didn’t think that was realistic.

“I thought I possibly could have (come back), but whether or not it would have been smart to risk it is a whole different conversation,” Bishop said. He added that it was difficult to watch his teammates lose to San Francisco in Week 1, particularly with the defense struggling to stop the run. Niners RB Frank Gore rushed for 112 yards on just 16 carries.

“Yeah, it was (tough),” he said. “Our guys were out there fighting, and I really wish I could be out there fighting the battle with them. They came up short, but it’s just one game.”

On Thursday night, RB Cedric Benson will be facing the team that drafted him No. 4 overall in 2005, the Chicago Bears. Back in 2009 while playing for Cincinnati, Benson rushed 37 times for 189 yards and a TD the first time he got a crack at his former team. The Bengals crushed the Bears that day, 45-10.

Benson said he feels no extra motivation facing the Bears again this week, saying his years in Chicago were a long time ago and he holds no personal grudges.

“It’s extra incentive every weekend for me,” he said. “The fact that they’re a former team, you always want to do great against those guys, but that’s not the driving force here. Every week is always extra incentive to get the job done.”

That’s especially true coming off his disappointing nine-carry, 18-yard Packers debut last Sunday. Benson was hoping to get more carries in that game, but he understood the game plan and the way the game unfolded didn’t call for that.

“There’s some work to be done,” he said. “I’ve got to set guys up to create some explosiveness in the run game. And we can’t get behind, because we have to play catch-up then and we don’t get to run as much. For me personally, I have to be patient and also be explosive.”

For more of Tuesday’s coverage, click here.

Listen to the Chicago Bears’ conference calls

Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith and DE Julius Peppers were made available to the media via conference call Tuesday afternoon. To listen to Smith and Peppers talk about Thursday night’s game in Green Bay, click on the links below.

- Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith

- Bears DE Julius Peppers

Mike’s mid-week chat transcript

Packers.com staff writer Mike Spofford held his mid-week chat on Tuesday. For the transcript, click here.

Jennings not practicing Tuesday

In the portion of practice open to the media Tuesday, WR Greg Jennings (groin) was not practicing. Also sitting out were LB Terrell Manning (concussion) and RB James Starks (toe).

DE C.J. Wilson, who is listed on the injury report with a groin injury, was practicing, as was CB Davon House (shoulder), though it’s still unclear whether House will be cleared to play this week. The practice was without pads.

Mike McCarthy will speak to the media after practice, so there may be additional updates.