The Bears have now lost two starting linebackers for the season, with the announcement Wednesday that Pisa Tinoisamoa will have microfracture knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, along with six-time Pro Bowler Brian Urlacher, who suffered a season-ending wrist fracture in the season opener.

Fortunately for the Bears, linebacker was probably their most talented and deepest position.

Undersized Nick Roach will probably remain in the middle after two straight impressive games. Hunter Hillenmeyer started the first two games in the middle after Urlacher was injured, but then he went out with a fractured rib and hasn't played since Game 3, although he is back on the practice field.

Both Roach and Hillenmeyer have played in the middle and on the strong side, but Roach is faster and more athletic, so he figures to play in the middle. The wild card is Jamar Williams, who can also play both positions but has not impressed this season.

"Jamar Williams has played a lot of football," coach Lovie Smith said. "All of our linebackers that we have all seem like they have played different positions, so we have flexibility. We're just going to let it play out. We have a little time to make some of those decisions."