Welcome back: Bears claim Lamarr Houston off waivers

With their outside-linebacker position thin after the loss of Leonard Floyd to season-ending surgery, the Bears turned to a familiar face: Lamarr Houston. They claimed Houston off waivers from the Texans, filling a roster spot left vacant when they cut Tre McBride on Tuesday.

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Houston, whom the Bears cut at the end of training camp, played five games for the Texans, forcing a fumble and recovering one for a touchdown.

Houston led the Bears with eight sacks in 2015. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in 2014 and 2016, the former while thrusting his crotch during a sack dance. The quarterback he sacked: Jimmy Garoppolo, who’s starting for the 49ers on Sunday.

No outside runs?

The Bears didn’t call many outside zone runs, typically their go-to plays, last Sunday because of the Eagles’ defensive scheme, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. The Eagles play a wide-9 front, positioning their defensive ends outside the tight ends, where the Bears like to run.

Loggains said the Bears instead tried to succeed with “designer” runs — trap and wham plays — but “we didn’t do a good enough job of executing it.” They finished with six rushing yards, five more than their all-time low.

This and that

Guard Josh Sitton (concussion), safety Adrian Amos (hamstring) and defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson (ankle) did not practice. Offensive lineman Tom Compton (ankle), defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris (hamstring) and cornerback Bryce Callahan (knee) were limited.

† Wide receiver Josh Bellamy (concussion) returned to practice after missing the game against the Eagles.

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Email: pfinley@suntimes.com