Omiyale to stay put at left guard; Hillenmeyer back at practice

The Bears just hit the practice fields behind Halas Hall to begin their preparation for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.

Frank Omiyale is expected to remain the starter at left guard based on the information gathered in the locker room. There’s been speculation that Josh Beekman, who started 16 games there last season, would replace Omiyale. But the Bears are showing that they believe in taking time to let a unit with three new starters gel. Orlando Pace is new at left tackle and former first-round draft pick Chris Williams is manning right tackle.

“It’s mostly learning each other,” center Olin Kreutz said. “We have to learn exactly where every guy is going to be and like I said, when we get to that point, we’ll be where we want to be, but we have to get there pretty soon.”

The Bears’ pass blocking has held up pretty well through a variety of opponent blitzes. They are not running the ball with any kind of consistency, however, and that is on the line and running back Matt Forte, as well as play caller Ron Turner.

NOTES: Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer is in full pads, so it looks like he will at least take part in parts of practice for the first time since suffering two broken ribs on Sept. 27 at Seattle.

*** Running back Adrian Peterson remains out with a sprained right knee and he could miss Sunday’s game.

*** No sign of linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who has an injured right knee.