How will the Bears deploy new defensive end Gaines Adams?

The plan is for Gaines Adams to make his debut for the Bears on Sunday at Cincinnati, but exactly how that will be executed remains to be seen.

The first question is whose place on the 45-man gameday roster will he take? Adams was one of three linemen inactive last Sunday at Atlanta, joining tackle Matt Toeaina and rookie swing man Jarron Gilbert. it would seem unlikely the team will sit down any of the linemen who played vs. the Falcons–tackles Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams, Marcus Harrison and israel Idonije, and ends Alex Brown, Adewale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson. Of course, if Harris’ left knee remains an issue–he’s missed practice the last two days–it could be him.

Otherwise, it looks as if Lovie Smith might have to choose between some reserve defensive backs or wide receiver Devin Aromashodu, who was active against the Falcons for the first time. Based on the special teams use of the defensive backs–Josh Bullocks, Corey Graham, Craig Steltz–our guess would be Aromashodu. But it’s just a guess.

What will the Bears have in store for Adams?

“Obviously, the more plays I play, the more happy I will be, but I am not worried about that right now,” he said. “I know I am not going to come in and jump out there and play 30 plays. Just coming in, I still have to learn the playbook, learn how they do things, and go from there.”

It’s impossible to venture a guess as to how many plays they have planned for him, and the flow of the game will probably dictate it to a large degree, but it makes sense to use him in nickel situations. The Bears believed they were getting a player with elite pass-rushing traits when they traded for him last Friday. Why use him in any other situation from the beginning?