During the brief period of practice open to reporters Thursday, veteran Jonathan Scott lined up with the starters at right tackle.
Gabe Carimi, a 2011 first-round pick, lined up with the second-string offensive line.
In a blocking drill, Scott was with the starting offensive linemen, next to right guard Lance Louis. A fifth-round pick in 2006 by the Detroit Lions, Scott played at Texas from 2002 to 2005. He was a tw-time All-Big 12 selection and also a one-time All-American.
Scott started 28 games in his previous six NFL season with the Buffalo Bills, Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Today, just getting into the flow of things,” Scott said after practice. “Mesh with the other guys. I just have to be on their page. I’m excited.”
Scott hasn’t officially been told he’ll start. But Carimi acknowledged coming off the practice field that he’s no longer starting.
“This isn’t the first time in my career people doubt me and it won’t be the last,” Carimi told the Sun-Times. “I just got to keep working hard. My opportunity will come.
“I’m all good.”
Scott is a veteran, starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The Steelers, though, lost to the Green Bay Packers, and he wants to get back to the big game.
Can this line accomplish that goal?
“I believe so,” he said. “It’s about adversity, its about meeting adversity, and we have to show that will and show that fight, and I believe we have that in us.”
Carimi was the 29th overall selection in 2011 out of Wisconsin. He dislocated his knee during Week 2 of his rookie season, and he was placed on the injured reserve. He’s struggled this season throughout his 10 starts.
“Gabe works hard and is a very good professional for a young player,” Tice said. “But at the end of the day, we all have to have better results, starting with me, because I’m the coordinator. I have to have better results. The players have to have better results. It’s a business. That’s the way it is. That’s what it’s about.
“And that’s where we’re at, right now offensively — on a short week, which is good. Because we have to make decisions and go. Whether that’s what we’re calling, who we’re calling it to. Who’s blocking, who’s catching, we’ve got to go.”
And so the Bears are going on without Carimi starting anymore.
