1985 Bears Coverage: Dennis McKinnon to take it easy on knee

Every day of the 2015 Chicago Bears season, Chicago Sun-Times Sports will revisit its coverage 30 years ago during the 1985 Bears’ run to a Super Bowl title.

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Dennis McKinnon to take it easy on knee

Kevin Lamb

Originally published Aug. 22, 1985

Mike Singletary won’t cost the Bears a roster space until he plays in a game, so they didn’t have to make a cut for him to practice today.

Quarterback Jim McMahon said he has told wide receiver Dennis McKinnon to take it easy on his knee, recovering from July 5 arthroscopic surgery. McKinnon practiced hard last week in hopes of playing Saturday night. But he wound up with fluid on the knee, possibly jeopardizing his availability for the season opener two weeks from Sunday.

“I think he tried to push it a little too hard,” McMahon said. “He was making full-speed cuts. You’ve got to ease into it after surgery. I told him to get himself ready in two weeks.”

It was McMahon’s 26th birthday, so his teammates gave him a cake “with lots of rude things written on it,” Ken Margerum said.

Punter Maury Buford joined the team. He had to ask reporters for directions to the locker room when no one from the Bears accompanied him from the executive offices.