Conte Cleared To Play In Opener After Concussion
(CBS) Bears safety Chris Conte has been cleared by medical personnel to play in Chicago's season opener against Buffalo on Sunday at Soldier Field, about two weeks after he suffered a concussion on Aug. 22 in a preseason game at Seattle.
"I feel good," Conte said. "I just had to go through the whole protocol with the doctors. It's a pretty long, extensive process. Just finishing up that stuff and am ready to go."
While Conte was a full participant in Thursday's practice, coach Marc Trestman hasn't yet said whether he'll start. What we do know is the Bears plan to rotate Conte along with Ryan Mundy and Danny McCray at the two safety spots. That would allow Conte to ease his way back in and give Mundy and McCray breathers, as each also have big roles on special teams.
"I've heard that there's going to be a rotation going," Conte said. "However that works, whenever I get an opportunity, just got to make the most of it."
Conte hasn't played much football since last season ended. He missed the Bears' offseason program because of shoulder surgery, and he missed 11 training camp practices as he still recovered from that injury. His appearance in the Seattle game in which he was injured was his first in the preseason.
"I'm excited," Conte said. "It was kind of a good little warmup in Seattle, and now it's the real deal. I'm excited and I know a lot of my teammates are excited."
In other Bears participation news Thursday, reserve center/guard Brian de la Puente was a full participant in practice. He's been recovering from a sprained left MCL. His participation suggests he'll be ready to go Sunday.
Fullback Tony Fiammetta was a limited participant in practice.