LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated right wrist -- a major blow for a team with high expectations.
Team spokesman Jim Christman confirmed a Chicago Tribune report, saying, "Brian did have surgery this morning and he is out for the remainder of the season." Urlacher had said in a text message to the newspaper that his "season is over."
Urlacher apparently was injured in the first quarter of Sunday night's 21-15 loss at Green Bay making a tackle on Packers running back Ryan Grant. He left on the Packers' first drive of the second half.
Urlacher, a six-time Pro Bowl player, had started 49 consecutive games in his 10-year career and has missed a total of seven games -- all in 2004 with a hamstring injury.
The Bears have been in contact with free-agent linebacker Derrick Brooks to fill the void left by Urlacher's injury, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, and it's possible the Bears could sign Brooks as early as Monday.
"It's always tough to have your leader go down," linebacker Lance Briggs said, according to the Tribune. "He knows the defense better than anybody and he communicates everything to everyone else."
Urlacher made several plays in the first half, including when he lowered his right shoulder into the quarterback Aaron Rodgers after he had released the ball on a third down to send him sprawling.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4472175
Team spokesman Jim Christman confirmed a Chicago Tribune report, saying, "Brian did have surgery this morning and he is out for the remainder of the season." Urlacher had said in a text message to the newspaper that his "season is over."
Urlacher apparently was injured in the first quarter of Sunday night's 21-15 loss at Green Bay making a tackle on Packers running back Ryan Grant. He left on the Packers' first drive of the second half.
Urlacher, a six-time Pro Bowl player, had started 49 consecutive games in his 10-year career and has missed a total of seven games -- all in 2004 with a hamstring injury.
The Bears have been in contact with free-agent linebacker Derrick Brooks to fill the void left by Urlacher's injury, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, and it's possible the Bears could sign Brooks as early as Monday.
"It's always tough to have your leader go down," linebacker Lance Briggs said, according to the Tribune. "He knows the defense better than anybody and he communicates everything to everyone else."
Urlacher made several plays in the first half, including when he lowered his right shoulder into the quarterback Aaron Rodgers after he had released the ball on a third down to send him sprawling.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4472175
