Bears coach Matt Nagy: WR Anthony Miller won’t need shoulder surgery

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Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller makes a one-handed grab as he warms up Sunday. | Rick Scuteri/AP photo

Four days after Anthony Miller dislocated his left shoulder against the Cardinals, Bears coach Matt Nagy said he doesn’t believe the rookie wide receiver will need surgery.

“That’s not something I see happening,” he said.

It seems unlikely that Miller, who sat out practice again Thursday, will play against the Buccaneers. With a bye week coming up, Nagy has said the team will use caution in deciding whether its three injured players — cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper, who have injured hamstrings and didn’t practice — will play.

Kevin White, the Bears’ 2015 first-round pick, figures to see increased playing time. Nagy said he appreciates “how he’s been handling himself” despite playing 26 snaps this season.

“I really like his attitude right now,” Nagy said. “I like where he’s at. He’s coming out and doing everything that we’re asking him to do. There are certain times you get one play, one opportunity, one chance to make something happen, and it does and it snowballs to bigger and better things.”

Rookie Javon Wims, who was praised Thursday by Nagy for his play in the preseason, also might play. Nagy said players need to be prepared to contribute.

“Whoever that is, whether that’s Javon or any other player, wide receiver — if it’s another position — those guys have got to be ready,” he said.

No roughing change

The NFL said it will not change its roughing-the-passer point of emphasis, which forbids tacklers from putting their body weight onto a passer when tackling.

In an attempt to clarify the controversial rule, the NFL competition committee sent a video to teams showing legal and illegal hits.

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The Bears have yet to be flagged for the violation.

“The only thing we’ve done is [what] we’ve [done] since training camp and through the season: We’ve just shown them snaps and what’s being called,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “And just to be aware of it.”

Fangio, who has said his concern lies in how different officiating crews interpret the rule, said the Bears haven’t issued scouting reports on upcoming referees because there are very few data points this year.

This and that

Tight end Adam Shaheen, who started the season on injured reserve with right foot and ankle injuries, has transitioned from the use of a pushcart to a walking boot, Nagy said. He’s not eligible to play in a game until eight weeks into the season.

“He’s in our meetings,” Nagy said. “He’s mentally staying prepared, listening to everything. He sits right in there with everybody and is a part of it. And then physically, from what I’m being told, everything is good so far. Now it’s just a week-by-week thing to see where he’s at. But he’s a valuable weapon for us that we want to feel cautiously optimistic that he’ll be back.”

† Nagy said the Bears have targeted safety DeAndre Houston-Carson’s return for this week. He was a full participant in practice for the second straight day after recovering from a broken forearm.

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