Hester sidelined with rib injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- More lingering than the disappointment of Sunday's disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers may be the loss of Devin Hester.

The Bears' leader in touchdowns over the last two seasons left the field in the third quarter holding his left side with what was described as a rib injury. He was moving gingerly in the locker room afterward and the team shielded him from media without making any further announcement about what medical exams might have revealed.

''Of course he couldn't finish the football game, so that's cause for concern,'' said coach Lovie Smith, who could not specify if Hester was injured on the kickoff return that ended with a tackle by rookie Dan Connor, or earlier. ''That's the final [play]. Whether he did before that, I don't know.''

Danieal Manning assumed kickoff-return duties and brought one Rhys Lloyd kick that went seven yards into the end zone to the 29-yard line. Cornerback Nathan Vasher took his role on punt returns, with an 18-yard return the best of three chances.

It limited Hester to 12 plays on offense and he made just one reception, a six-yarder. So after all of the work to integrate him offensively, he has two catches to show for it. No one wanted to speculate on his status following the game.

''Obviously, he's a great player,'' quarterback Kyle Orton said. ''He helps us in all facets of the game. [If he misses time], it is going to hurt. But offensively, I think Marty Booker can step in and add a veteran presence -- and the limited time he's been in so far this season, he's played well. I am very confident Marty can come in and play well for us.''

Booker went from seven snaps in the opener to 23, with the majority coming in the second half after Hester was lost. A bomb by Orton on third-and-seven from the Bears' 13 was just overthrown as Booker had soundly beaten Ken Lucas.

''He hasn't been out there that much, but I think we have developed some timing,'' Orton said. ''That throw certainly wasn't a timing issue or anything like that; it was just a missed throw. I am confident with Marty.''

(suntimes.com)