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Idonije nearly blocked Elam's game-winning field goal

Israel Idonije nearly blocked Jason Elam's 48-yard field goal.

Even with everything that went against the Bears in the final :11 in last year’s nightmarish 22-20 loss in Atlanta, they nearly escaped with a victory.

Israel Idonije, a 6-foot-6 defensive lineman who blocked four kicks in 2006-07, came within a few inches of getting his right hand on Jason Elam’s game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired.

“It was close,” Idonije said. “That’s just the game we play. It’s a game of inches. If he kicks it a couple inches lower, it might be a different game.

“But we don’t want [Sunday night's game in Atlanta] to come down to that. They’re playing good football. We have to go in and establish ourselves and really establish our game plan, and we’ll be all right.”

After leading the NFL in blocked kicks with eight in 2007 and four in 2008, the Bears are still looking for their first one this season, though Idonije and Kellen Davis did deflect Olindo Mare field goals that went through the uprights Sept. 27 in a 25-19 win over the Seahawks in Seattle.

Four Bears players sit out Wednesday's practice

Bears defensive tackle Anthony Adams (toe), linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (rib), defensive lineman Israel Idonije (knee) and running back Adrian Peterson (knee) did not practice Wednesday. View Bears-Falcons injury report

“Adrian Peterson is getting better, but it may be a little while longer for him,” coach Lovie Smith said in advance of Sunday night’s game in Atlanta. “They’re all getting better, so we’ll just keep our fingers crossed and hopefully we can get the players back out on the football field before long.”

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) was limited, while linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) practiced without restrictions. Tinoisamoa has been out since spraining his knee on the first play of the season opener.

For the Falcons, safety Antoine Harris (knee) and running back Ovie Mughelli (calf) did not practice, while kicker Jason Elam (hamstring) worked out without limitations.

Louis tight-lipped about misdemeanor charge

Lance Louis declined to comment Wednesday about the misdemeanor assault charge that was filed against him Tuesday stemming from an incident last November involving former San Diego State teammate Nick Sandford.

“I’ve got nothing to say on it,” said the Bears rookie offensive lineman, a seventh-round draft pick. “I can’t talk about it right now. It’s a legal matter. It’s being handled. That’s about it.”

Louis’ arraignment reportedly is slated for Oct. 23 in San Diego, but he is not required to attend. The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The 6-3, 305-pounder made the Bears’ 53-man roster but has been inactive for the first four games this season.

Olsen more interested in wins than individual stats

Greg Olsen appeared to be quarterback Jay Cutler’s favorite receiver throughout training camp. But the third-year tight end only ranks fifth among Bears pass-catchers with 10 receptions for 94 yards.

Olsen hasn’t gotten the ball as much as some expected in part because opposing defenses have bracketed him at times, creating more one-on-one opportunities for Bears wide receivers.

“That happens,” Olsen said. “A lot of guys around the league get different attention [from defenses] and different looks each week, and you just have to adjust and take what’s there.

“Last week we were able to score a lot of points [in a 48-24 win over the Lions]. At the end of the game, it’s not about how many catches and the stats. When the play comes your way, [you have to] make it, and the rest of the stuff takes care of itself. I’m not too worried about stats around here.”

Olsen has made the most of his catches, hauling in 1-yard touchdown passes from Jay Cutler on fourth-and-goal in each of the Bears’ last two games against the Seahawks and Lions.

“A lot of teams are going to try to take him away from us, which is fine; that’s why it’s opened up stuff for everyone else,” Cutler said. “There’s going to be a time and a place where Greg’s going to start getting his balls and really start getting involved, and there will be a couple-week span where he doesn’t, where he gets two or three balls.

“He understands that. This offense understands that. We’re not going to make a big issue out of how many balls anyone catches or how many yards we run for or pass for.”

In training camp, Olsen appeared primed to build on his performance last season when he caught 54 passes, the most by a tight end in Bears history other than Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Olsen was hyped as a potential Pro Bowler, but he doesn’t think that the media put too much pressure on him.

“No, I don’t think so at all,” he said. “I feel that I have that type of potential and that type of ability. Things have to go your way sometimes and [you have to] get the breaks.

“But I feel good overall about how my game’s been through the first quarter of the season. I know a lot of the other stuff gets [overlooked]—the run-blocking, pass-blocking, stuff like that—but I’m not really too concerned about all the stuff that gets said. I feel good about where I’m at and just have to continue to not press, and when the chances come just make the best of them.”

Cutler looking for a repeat performance in Atlanta

Quarterback Jay Cutler will look to stay red hot and win for the second time in as many starts against the Falcons in the Georgia Dome Sunday night when the Bears visit Atlanta.

The Falcons are 9-1 at home in two seasons with Mike Smith as their head coach and 2008 first-round pick Matt Ryan at quarterback. Their only loss came last Nov. 16 when Cutler rallied the Broncos to a 24-20 victory by tossing a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Graham with 5:35 remaining.

“It’s a tough team, and they’re really good down there,” Cutler said Wednesday. “It’s a loud environment. On Sunday Night Football, it’ll be even louder, so you have to protect the football and keep playing good sound football because that’s what they’re going to do.”

In last year’s match-up, Cutler completed 19 of 27 passes for 216 yards with 1 TD, no interceptions and a 106.4 passer rating, while Ryan connected on 20 of 33 passes for 250 yards with no TDs, 1 interception and a 71.5 rating.

“Jay played well the day he came down and played against us,” Ryan said Wednesday during a conference call with the Chicago media. “He did a good job, made some plays.

“I’ve always been impressed with him as a quarterback. He’s mobile, strong-armed and has the capability to make a big play at any time. He played very well against us last year.”

Cutler has posted passer ratings of 104.7, 126.4 and 100.4 in his last three games, becoming the first Bears quarterback to top 100 in three straight contests since 1964 when Rudy Bukich did so in four consecutive games.

Since the start of the second half of the Bears’ season opener in Green Bay, Cutler has completed 70.1 percent of his passes (75 of 107) for 774 yards with eight touchdowns, two interceptions and a 107.8 passer rating. His completion percentage and passer rating both rank third in the NFL during that span.

On Sunday night, Cutler will face a Falcons defense that ranks 20th in the NFL in total yards, 24th against the run and 22nd versus the pass. The unit is led by defensive end John Abraham, who has three sacks in four games; and linebacker Mike Peterson, the brother of Bears running back Adrian Peterson.

“They mix it up,” Cutler said. “They do a lot of different stuff. They throw some blitzes at you, and a lot of different coverages. They try to keep you off balance, and they’ve done a good job so far this year.”