Tracy Porter was hurting when he fell down at the Bears’ 35-yard line, the ball flying in the air toward Arrelious Benn.
But it was no excuse.
“I slipped down,” the Bears cornerback said Thursday, his first comments since the Jaguars’ 51-yard touchdown with 2:49 left that handed the Bears’ their fifth loss on Oct. 16. “That’s the only way to put it. Yeah, I’m grinding through an injury, but I slipped on the field. That’s all.”
He limped off the field and into treatment. Porter didn’t practice all last week, slowed by a left knee problem, then played 86 of the Bears’ 87 defensive snaps in Green Bay. The Packers respected Porter — even a hampered version — enough to throw to the other side of the field most of the game.
Porter, who joined the Bears with a reputation for being oft-injured, hasn’t missed a game this season.
“It’s moreso being available for my teammates,” he said. “Because I know they look up to me, they know what type of play I bring to the table.”
Porter tried to minimize his injuries, calling his injuries “nagging” and saying his body is “holding up good.” His coaches, though, have been impressed.
“I think in two or three of the games here the last month, he’s had knee issues that have had to be tended to on game day before he goes out there,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “The guy has been showing up. … He’s been fighting and he’s shown good resiliency with that.”
