LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears cornerback Nate Vasher lined up at free safety on seven plays in Sunday’s loss in Cincinnati and could continue to see more action at the position in the future.

Nate Vasher was selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

“We’re just trying to find ways to get some of our players that we think can play on the football field,” said coach Lovie Smith. “Nate did have a few reps. We would have liked to even gotten him a few more in passing situations, and we’ll probably keep that going.”

Vasher’s seven snaps Sunday came in the nickel defense in a role that’s usually filled by Kevin Payne. When Vasher entered the game, Danieal Manning moved from free safety to the nickel position.

Vasher, a sixth-year pro from Texas, said that he was surprised when he was approached about playing free safety during the week leading up to the Bengals game.

“Yeah, because I’ve never done it before on the professional level,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a game plan-type thing. I don’t know how permanent it is. But anything that I can do to help the team out as far as giving them a little more flexibility to execute coverages is great.”

A week earlier, Vasher got on the field for only one play in a loss in Atlanta—and intercepted a Matt Ryan pass.

Vasher was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2005 when he led the Bears with eight interceptions. He picked off four passes in 2006, including one in the NFC title game, helping the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI. But after two injury-plagued seasons, Vasher lost his starting job this year to Zackary Bowman.

Although the Bears will play Vasher at free safety on occasion, he won’t move there permanently.

“Nate’s a corner that got a couple reps at the safety position,” Smith said. “That’s where we’ll keep him.”

Vasher doesn’t seem to mind where he plays, as long he gets on the field.

“Anything that I can do to help the team win, that’s what I’ll do,” he said.

On the bench: Smith revealed Monday that knee soreness wasn’t the primary reason that defensive tackle Tommie Harris didn’t suit up Sunday against the Bengals.

“No, there isn’t anything wrong with Tommie,” Smith said. “Tommie didn’t play this week. It was more a coach’s decision as much as anything else. He has had some soreness. He didn’t practice all week. 

"I thought we had better options. All player decisions on who’s going to dress is a game-day decision, who gives us the best opportunity to win. Could Tommie have played if I wanted him to? Yes, but I thought we could get a better Tommie if we let him rest this past week and get ready for this week. Tommie should be good to go this week.”

In five games this season, Harris has nine tackles, no sacks and his first career interception.

Smith expects Harris to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field.

“He should be in better shape to play this week than he was last,” Smith said. “I think he’ll be ready to go. For a player to really prove he’s ready to go, it would help for him to be able to practice throughout the week, and we think Tommie will be ready to go all week.”

In the trenches: After registering 14 sacks in their first four games, the Bears have been blanked in each of their last two contests. On Monday, Smith was asked about finding something to spark his defensive linemen.

“Well, they didn’t play well like our team didn’t play well [Sunday],” said the Bears coach. "[But] I’ve been pleased with their play before that.”

Even the previous week in Atlanta?

“Yeah, even Atlanta,” Smith said. “We held Atlanta down pretty good, except for a couple plays, so I feel pretty good with what our defensive line has been doing overall.

“Let’s not make this any bigger. Like the rest of our team, none of us did what we were supposed to do [Sunday], the defensive line included. But we have a good group on our defensive line and we all will play better this week.”

Falling behind: Trailing 14-0 after the first quarter Sunday, the Bears have now been outscored 45-7 in the opening period this season. Their opponent has scored first in five of six games this year.

“We’ve started slow and [Sunday] they just kept steamrolling us,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. “I think that kind of came and bit us in the tail. We’re not starting fast. When you start slow consistently, [opponents] see that and [the Bengals] pressed on the throttle and kept going.”