RealGM

NEW ORLEANS -- The Chicago Bears appeared to lose its second starter along the offensive line in two weeks in the second quarter Sunday, when right tackle Gabe Carimi left the game with what appeared to be a right knee injury.

Carimi suffered the injury with 32 seconds remaining in the second quarter, toward the end of a 10-play drive in which the Bears pulled to within six points of the New Orleans Saints on a 42-yard field goal from Robbie Gould that made the score 16-10.

He did not return to the game, which the Bears lost 30-13.

Meanwhile, Bears free safety Major Wright was shaken up after a hard head-on collision with tight end Jimmy Graham in the third quarter.

Wright initially lay face-down and motionless after the hit, but after a couple minutes was able to rise to his feet and walk to the sideline on his own.

He did not return to the game. Former LSU standout and New Orleans native Craig Steltz took over at Wright's spot.

The severity of Carimi's injury wasn't immediately known, but a member of the athletic training staff escorted the rookie -- who walked off the field on his own -- to the locker room. Veteran Frank Omiyale replaced Carimi at right tackle.

Carimi is the second starter the Bears have lost along the offensive line. Starting right guard Lance Louis suffered an ankle injury in the first half of Chicago's win last week over the Atlanta Falcons.

Also, Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett left Sunday's game in the first quarter with a chest injury but returned to the game briefly in the second quarter before he left for good.

Saints safety Roman Harper hit Bennett square in the chest on a slant route that resulted in a 9-yard completion. Bennett was able to walk off the field under his own power but was taken back to the Bears locker room for further testing.

Michael C. Wright and Jeff Dickerson covers the Bears for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

LUKE23 wrote:Don't turn the ball over, don't give up big plays on special teams, win.

LUKE23 wrote:Don't turn the ball over, don't give up big plays on special teams, win.

The decision came Sunday morning, Tramon Williams said. Right up to game day, Green Bay’s top cover corner had a chance to play against the Carolina Panthers.

In the end, he thought long term. He didn't want to make this bruised shoulder to linger all season.

“I was close but I just want to make the right decision,” Williams said. “I want to make sure I don’t miss too many games. I’d rather miss one or two games than miss eight or nine games. It was pretty much taking precaution.”

The Williams-less secondary struggled.

Carolina rookie Cam Newton threw for 432 yards on 28 of 46 passing, consistently finding the open receiver in Green Bay's defense. The Panthers raced to a 13-0 lead and Green Bay did make adjustments in the second half that helped. Charles Woodson had two interceptions, while Morgan Burnett added one.

But overall, Newton had a field day against a pass defense that ranked fifth the last two seasons.

For Williams, who has never missed a football game at any level, this wasn’t easy to stomach."Hard to see," he said.

As of now, his goal is to return for the Packers' game in Chicago next week.

“I’m hoping so," Williams said. "I hope so. I’ll just go for that.”