Bears' defensive linemen don't seem to care whether injured Matt Hasselbeck or backup Seneca Wallace starts at quarterback for the Seahawks Sunday in Seattle.

"Matt is the starter for a reason," said left end Adewale Ogunleye, who had two sacks in the season opener. "Obviously, he's their guy. Seneca is a guy who likes to scramble a lot. They're both capable quarterbacks, and we've got to be on our 'A' game."

Hasselbeck (rib) did not practice Thursday for the second straight day and appears doubtful. Of more concern to the Bears' defenders is the health of their right end, Alex Brown, who had two sacks last week but also missed a second straight day of practice Thursday with a sprained ankle. Brown has played in 113 straight games, many of them with injuries, so he's expected to be on the field.

"That's why I'm optimistic that he will play," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "I look at the history a little bit, and no doubt Alex Brown is a tough guy. You see it in his play every time, and he's getting better. He was able to do a little bit more Thursday."

While Brown didn't practice, he warmed up without a limp and did some individual work on the side. Ogunleye is hoping he and Brown can continue their race to the quarterback.

"This is becoming a healthy competition," he said. "It's big. I know it's the same thing with the defensive tackles, Tommie [Harris] and Double-A (Anthony Adams). Those guys are champing at the bit ready to get theirs, too. It's a healthy competition between us, and hopefully it can last the next 14 games."

Adams and Harris have yet to get out of the blocks in the sack race, but as a nose tackle, Adams' job description focuses more on stuffing the run. He's tied with Brown for the team lead in tackles for loss with 3. He also brings a frenetic level of on-the-field energy to the unit that is the opposite of his laid-back style off the field.

"I don't know what he does," Ogunleye said. "I think he needs to get tested every day for some type of substance that he's taking. His energy level is a little too much for me."

Adams has a logical explanation for the transformation that has seen him perform a forward roll on his way to the sideline after a big defensive stop last week and, in an attempt to arouse the home fans, wave his arms like a man in a cotton candy suit being attacked by bees.

"Well, I was an only child, so I was really hyper," Adams said. "I'm like a big kid out there. I really don't know what I'm going to do or what I'm going to say. I'm just so happy to be out there with the guys. I was miked up a couple times, and it was an experience because I didn't even know what I was doing. I didn't know what I was saying.

"But I have a lot of fun. I think that's the way to play this game. I think a lot of guys feed off of it. Sometimes when they call a timeout, and we're going back to the huddle, some of the guys are like, 'Come on, man, we need something.' So I feel like I always have to do something. Maybe a flip or something, I don't know."

Maybe it'll depend on whether the Bears face Hasselbeck or Wallace, but that shouldn't change how the D-line operates.

"Just worry about what you can, or you'll drive yourself crazy," Ogunleye said. "The key is to worry about us."