Brown Out, Dvoracek Too

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 11, 2007 2:00PM

When we saw Mike Brown leave the game with an injury, Chicagoist feared the worst. Once again, one of the Bears' best defensive players and leaders on the field has a great game going and then has to leave the game prematurely. And the tears in the locker room after the game certainly didn't make us any less worried.

Monday evening, our fears were confirmed when the Bears announced that Mike Brown had blown out his ACL in his left knee and is done for the year. Just like 2004. And 2005. And 2006. By season's end, he'll have missed 46 games in the past four seasons. He's become the freakin' Mark Prior of the Bears.

If Mike Brown is the Bears' Mark Prior, then does that make Dusty Dvoracek the Kerry Wood of the team? The second-year player, who missed all of the 2006 season with an injury, returned and won Tank Johnson's former starting position at defensive tackle. He also tore his left ACL and is done for the year.

The injuries to both Brown and Dvorcek both create issues for the Bears. Danieal Manning, who as a rookie started 17 games for the Bears last year, will be called upon to start in Brown's stead. Bet Jerry Angelo is regretting that Chris Harris trade about now.

In the middle of the defensive line, Darwin Walker will finally get a chance to start for the Bears. When they traded for him last month, that was his expected role. Dvorcek won the job from him. But that still leaves the Bears light at the position. Free-agent signee Anthony Adams was inactive for Sunday's game, but that certainly won't be the case moving forward. Antonio Garay, who was cut but signed to the practice squad, might get called back up to the active roster. And then there is always Tank Johnson, who's still available ... would they even consider such a move?

Image via SuppliesCentral.net.