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Wannstedt's revenge Lucas, Rosenfels help head coach beat former teamPosted: Thursday August 29, 2002 10:33 PMUpdated: Friday August 30, 2002 1:07 AM MIAMI (AP) -- The Chicago Bears escaped their exhibition finale without any major injuries. The Miami Dolphins might not have been so lucky. Guard Leon Searcy, acquired during the offseason to give the Dolphins depth on the offensive line, injured his right elbow in Thursday night's 24-22 win over the Bears. "I don't know if it's a pull, a strain or a tear," Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt said. Searcy, who started in place of Jamie Nails (knee), was to have tests Friday to determine the extent of the injury. Miami backup tight end Jed Weaver twisted his left knee and cornerback Patrick Surtain strained his left groin. Both players were to be re-evaluated Friday. Chicago quarterback Jim Miller left with a mild right ankle sprain in the first quarter but should start the regular-season opener next Sunday. "I came out for precautionary reasons," said Miller, who turned his ankle on a sack. "I'll be fine. Unfortunately for me, my cleat just didn't come out of the turf. I kind of tweaked it. There's a little swelling, but nothing to worry about. I knew it wasn't serious." Bears backup defensive tackle Christian Peter also left with a sprained right thumb. X-rays were negative. "We are concerned about some injuries, but we came out of this one pretty healthy," Bears head coach Dick Jauron said. Miami scored on three of its first four possessions and led 17-7 at halftime behind the starters and second string. The Dolphins opened the game by recovering an onside kick, then Jay Fiedler drove them 40 yards to set up Olindo Mare's 34-yard field goal. Fiedler, running back Ricky Williams and many of Miami's other offensive starters played just the opening possession. Fiedler was 2-of-5 passing for 31 yards, and backup Ray Lucas was 11-of-17 for 102 yards. Third-string quarterback Sage Rosenfels, acquired last week in a trade with Washington, was 9-of-11 for 104 yards. "I think we're hitting on all cylinders, from the starters to the group in the second half," Fiedler said. "We're clicking pretty well." The Bears took the lead a play after Mare's field goal when Miller hit Dez White on a slant pass for an 80-yard touchdown. Surtain pulled up on the play and did not return. "The first play was ugly, but we bounced back well," defensive end Jason Taylor said. Miami defensive end Adewale Ogunleye got his first of two sacks on Chicago's next possession, hitting Miller and causing a fumble. The Dolphins recovered, and three plays later Travis Minor scored from 15 yards out. Miller did not return. Backup quarterback Chris Chandler led the Bears on drives of nine plays and 11 plays, but they failed to score. Chandler was 2-of-6 passing for 25 yards. Henry Burris and Ken Mastrole, competing for Chicago's third-string quarterback job, alternated series for part of the second quarter and in the second half. Burris finished 3-of-8 for 27 yards. Mastrole was 4-of-8 for 40 yards. "We'll just have to study the tape and make a decision," Jauron said. "It's going to be that way in a number of positions. We're going to let guys go that can play in this league." Ogunleye sacked Burris in the second quarter for his team-leading eighth sack of the preseason. He also set a club record for exhibition sacks, passing Charles Bowser's mark of six set in 1982. Ogunleye secured a starting job for the season opener. "We've got to tell him to start all over," linebacker Zach Thomas said. "It's the season. Now is when we need him. He's done a great job, eight sacks, that's nice. Do that in the regular season and look out [Michael] Strahan." The Bears scored twice in the second half and made a 2-point conversion that cut the lead to 24-22, but they couldn't get the ball back in the closing minutes.
"I like the way we finished," said Wannstedt, whose team won
its final two preseason games. "You wouldn't want to look good in
the first two games and fall apart. We're a confident team in all
areas getting ready for the opener."
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