Bears' Forte to miss Rams game with sprained ankle

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte will sit out the Chicago Bears' game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday because of a sprained right ankle.

Coach Lovie Smith said Friday that Forte "is making a lot of progress," but isn't ready to play. Forte went to the locker room midway through the third quarter of last week's loss at Green Bay after he appeared to twist his right ankle while being tackled by Charles Woodson. That leaves Chicago without one of its top offensive players.

He also missed the final four games last season because of a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee.

With Forte out, Michael Bush figures to be the primary ball carrier on Sunday. And, he gets a chance to show he's more than a power, short-yardage back, and that he can produce between the 20-yard lines.

"Hopefully I can get people to get that knock off me about not being an every-down back," said Bush, who signed a four-year deal with the Bears after running for 977 yards with Oakland last season. "I can't please everybody. It's a business. It is what it is. You don't like me, so what? I'm going to keep playing hard."

Bush also believes he has something to prove to the coaches.

"The more I get to play, the more I get to show them," he said. "The more they trust in me, believe in me and give me more opportunities. For the most part I know they're behind my back regardless. That's a good thing."

Besides ruling out Forte, the Bears also list defensive end Julius Peppers as probable. He sat out Wednesday's practice because of a foot problem, but was listed as a full participant on Thursday and Friday.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Aldon Smith says 49ers weren't targeting Ben Roethlisberger's ankle last season

Posted: 11:03 AM ET May 18, 2012

By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger

Smith makes a good point: 'The quarterback, he controls the game. So if he got hit, it happens.' (Getty Images)
Last week, during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hinted that the 49ers may have targeted his bum ankle during a Week 15 matchup. To his credit, Big Ben wasn't complaining, just answering a question.

"Um, wow, that's tough," he said at the time. "I don't really complain about that stuff, either. But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra ... Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bulls-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them."

Roethlisberger had a horrible game; he didn't throw a touchdown, had three picks and a lost fumble in a 20-3 loss.

In the wake of Big Ben's conversation with Patrick, ESPN.com's Mike Sando looked at every play from that game and found no evidence of San Francisco players intentionally aiming for Roethlisberger's ankle.

And Aldon Smith, the then-rookie who terrorized Big Ben for most of that night (he ended up with 2.5 sacks), agrees: the 49ers didn't have any agenda other than to harass the quarterback.

“Our goal was to win the game,” Smith said according to the Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows. “We don't go out and talk about hurting other players, their ankles, or injuries, or any of that. We were going out to win the game. The quarterback, he controls the game. So if he got hit, it happens.”

Barrows notes that the 49ers' defense was penalized three times in the game, and none were of the flagrant-foul variety.

Also worth pointing out: when Smith says that "if (the QB) got hit, it happens," it's another way of saying: "Yeah, this is what happens when you stand in the pocket for eight seconds trying to make a big play. Especially if you're already on a bad wheel."

That's been Roethlisberger's M.O. during his career: turning broken plays into big gains but at the cost of taking a beating. Week 15 of the 2011 season was just another example of that. He was just much less effective after suffering a high-ankle sprain 10 days before.

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Tags: Aldon Smith, Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, NFL

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Johnson (ankle) limited at practice, expects to face Jags

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Chris Johnson is back practicing, though limited for the Tennessee Titans. Barring any soreness in his ankle, the running back should play Saturday against Jacksonville.

Johnson hurt his right ankle in last week's loss at Indianapolis and did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday.

Coach Mike Munchak said Johnson was limited Thursday but looked pretty good running. Munchak says that Johnson should be in good shape unless he has soreness in the ankle from the work he did Friday.

Linebacker Gerald McRath did not practice with his sprained left knee and ankle. Linebacker Patrick Bailey (hamstring) and defensive end William Hayes (groin) both practiced on Thursday, as did receiver Nate Washington (ankle).

Defensive end Dave Ball practiced after missing Wednesday while his wife gave birth to a son.

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