The expectation was that the Lions would be out looking for a veteran safety to fill in on a short-term basis, but no such signing has occurred.

That means Amari Spievey's hamstring injury isn't considered too severe. Spievey, who starts at strong safety opposite Louis Delmas, went through stretching drills with the team on Wednesday and then worked indoors with a trainer. But with Erik Coleman (ankle) out, the Lions are still thin at the position. Besides Louis Delmas and Spievey, only John Wendling, a special teams ace, is on the 53-man roster.

Rookie Ricardo Silva is on the practice squad, but he is a developmental player not deemed ready to step in.

PLAYER NOTES

--QB Matthew Stafford has been money in the fourth quarter. He's completed 24 of 36 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. His passer rating in the fourth quarter is 120.9, third best in the NFC.

--WR Calvin Johnson fell hard and was shaken after scoring the game-winning touchdown in Dallas Sunday. It was believed he knocked the wind out of himself, but that wasn't the case. "I hit my back and hit my head on the ground," Johnson said. "My wind was straight, it was just kind of painful." He is expected to practice Thursday.

--RG Stephen Peterman continues to struggle. According to ProFootballFocus.com, he was beaten for two quarterback pressures and a quarterback hit and was beaten badly in the run game.

--WR Maurice Stovall is finally cast-free. Since Week 1 he has been playing with a cast on his right hand.

--MLB Stephen Tulloch, who had 12 tackles and an interception Sunday, missed his first practice since signing with the Lions. He was given a rest day by the coaching staff Wednesday.

INJURY IMPACT

--LB Justin Durant (concussion) was not cleared for practice on Wednesday. He was expected to take another test on Tuesday. Apparently he failed. It would've been his third failed concussion test.

--SS Erik Coleman (foot) was not at the practice facility on Wednesday. He might have been getting more tests, but that wasn't confirmed by the team.

--OT Jason Fox (foot) is still not practicing.

GAME PLAN
For some inexplicable reason, Bears QB Jay Cutler has owned the Lions in his career. In four games, all victories, he's never had a passer rating under 100 - his average is 112.9. He has thrown for 1,023 yards in those four games, with nine touchdowns and just one interception.

Somehow, some way, the Lions have to find a way to put him under some duress. It's difficult because he throws so many short, control passes, but they have to make him uncomfortable and force some turnovers.

Offensively, if the Lions can slow DE Julius Peppers and keep LB Brian Urlacher's damage to a minimum, they should be able to move the ball. The Bears rank 31st in total defense and 29th in pass defense. If Stafford has time, he should be able to pick them apart.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Lions LT Jeff Backus vs. Bears DRE Julius Peppers -- Backus played Peppers about as well as he can be played in the season opener last year at Soldier Field. Backus, in fact, made one bad play. But on that play, Peppers blew by him and slammed QB Matthew Stafford to the ground, injuring his throwing shoulder. The spotlight has been on Backus a lot early in the season. He has already battled Kansas City's Tamba Hali, Minnesota's Jared Allen and last week he did a solid job on Dallas' DeMarcus Ware. Peppers has nine sacks in six games against the Lions in his career.

Lions MLB Stephen Tulloch vs. Bears RB Matt Forte -- Forte has been a serious Lions killer in his career. In six games he's averaged 126.2 total yards (83 rushing, 43 receiving) with a touchdown in each game. He had touchdown receptions of 89 and 28 yards in the first game against the Lions last season. Tulloch is coming on strong. He had a team-high 12 tackles last week with an interception. He might be shadowing Forte this week.

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