Who's on third? Or better yet, who's in the secondary?

Cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman and safety Danieal Manning all had full participation in Wednesday's practice. Yet Trumaine McBride and Nathan Vasher are listed as the starting cornerbacks on the depth chart, and rookie Al Afalava remains the starter at strong safety with Kevin Payne moving from strong safety to free safety in place of Manning.

"The depth chart right now doesn't really mean an awful lot," coach Lovie Smith said. "When we get to the game Sunday, that would say a lot. Could it change between now and then? It sure could. We'll go through the week and decide on a lot of positions."

Bowman had an exceptional offseason and training camp, outplaying any of the cornerbacks on the field, but he missed three weeks with a hamstring injury before starting the final preseason game. Tillman, who had mid-June back surgery and only returned to practice this week, is the Bears' best corner.

"He's making progress," Smith said of Tillman. "I've been encouraged all throughout. Nothing has changed."

Tillman was in a giddy mood after practice Wednesday, but he didn't say much to illuminate his situation.

"I'm awful," he joked. "I'm god-awful. I'm rusty."

Then he got serious. Well, more serious.

"I like to keep everyone guessing, and we'll know what I'm doing for Sunday on Sunday," Tillman said. "I still don't know if I'm playing. I might be playing. I might not be playing. To be continued, dot, dot, dot."

Manning was just as informative.

"I'm playing the whole game," he said.

But when asked if he was starting, Manning said, "We'll see."

"But you are playing?" he was asked.

"Yes," he said.