[bears9]

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Brian Urlacher is expected to make a full recovery from neck surgery, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith reiterated over the weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The six-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, who led the Bears with 158 tackles and a career-high five interceptions while starting all 16 games in 2007, is currently rehabbing in Arizona under the team’s direction.

“Brian’s doing well,” Angelo said. “Everything we’ve heard has been positive based on the surgery.

"It did come up unexpectedly. It wasn’t anything that we foreknew as in most surgeries. But the good news is he’s feeling a lot better and we are very optimistic that he’ll get back and going.

"What he’s going to do in the offseason program and how that’s all going to work out, I don’t know that yet.”

In the last five games of the season, Urlacher registered 52 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions and one fumble recovery. The 2000 first-round pick returned one of those picks 85 yards for a score—the first interception return TD of his career—in a Week 16 rout of the Packers.

Urlacher on road to recovery from neck surgery - Chicago Bears

[Lefty Noob]

Well, that's definitely good news. I was skeptical about his recovery early on, but it sure sounds like it's coming along nicely.