LAKE FOREST, Ill. – After adding 20 pounds to his athletic 6-6 frame in anticipation of seeing more playing time at defensive tackle this season, Israel Idonije threw his weight around last Saturday night in Seattle.

Israel Idonije is expected to continue to see more playing time on defense this season.

Taking advantage of a rare chance to start, Idonije batted down a pass and registered a sack, two quarterback hits and two tackles in the first half of the Bears’ 29-26 overtime loss to the Seahawks.

“He had an outstanding game, especially as an inside rusher,” coach Lovie Smith said after practice Tuesday at Halas Hall. “That’s what we expect him to do for us this year.”

A key member of the NFL’s No. 1-ranked special teams unit the past two seasons, Idonije has seen his reps on defense increase dramatically throughout the spring and summer.

“Given an opportunity to make more of an impact on defense is big,” said Idonije, who weighs 297 pounds. “That’s what I’m trying to do when I get an opportunity to be on the field. They’ve reduced my special teams duties, so I have to produce and perform [on defense].”

A reserve end in his first three seasons with the Bears, Idonije was utilized as an inside rusher in nickel situations last year. That role is expected to expand this season while he also sees spot duty at end. Idonije currently is not playing on any special teams units, but that could change once the regular season begins.

Idonije’s value on special teams was evident last year when he knocked Chargers return man Darren Sproles out of the season opener with a concussion on the opening kickoff.

“Special teams is a very important phase of the game, but I want to play defense,” he said. “I want to play as many downs as I can on Sundays—at d-tackle, d-end, wherever it may be.”

Idonije would rather play an entire series on defense than sporadically run on and off the field for one play here or one play there on special teams. “That’s a big difference,” he said. 

“When you’re a steady part of the defense, you can set a guy up and work your technique. You’re in there a number of snaps. You can get a rhythm. When you’re just doing spot duty, it takes a little more time to get into that rhythm.”

Asked about his strengths at tackle, Idonije said: “I can bring some quickness to that three technique or that nose position and just use some of my length and ability. I’m a lot taller than the average tackle and a lot of guards are short-armed guys.”

Getting reps in the preseason is one thing, but Idonije knows that it’ll be more difficult in the regular season. At tackle, he’s battling for playing time with Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams, Dusty Dvoracek, Matt Toeaina and rookie Marcus Harrison.

“When you step on the field you know that there’s a guy who’s doing his job,” Idonije said. “You’ve got to step your game up and play on another level. When you come into the game you don’t want the performance to drop at all. All those guys play at a high level, so it’s important that when I get in there I keep it there.”

Bears coaches praised Idonije for his performance against the Seahawks and are expected to play him at both tackle and end Thursday night versus the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field.

“They know what kind of potential I have and they just want me to continue to get better,” Idonije said. “That’s why they’re giving me this opportunity, so I can get in there and make those kinds of plays and play at that level.”