Bears safety Chris Conte cleared to play Week 1 after concussion
Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte has been cleared for Week 1, the team announced Thursday.
Conte had been out since sustaining a concussion in Chicago's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 22. Earlier this offseason, Conte underwent shoulder surgery that kept him out of training camp until Aug. 10.
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Head coach Marc Trestman hasn't yet announced his starting safeties, but Conte is a candidate for one of the positions, along with Ryan Mundy, Danny McCray and Brock Vereen.
Conte, a third-round pick of the Bears in the 2011 NFL draft, has started 31 games over the past two seasons. He had 90 total tackles and three interceptions in 2013.
In the team's final regular season game against the Green Bay Packers last season, it was Conte's coverage mistake that allowed the Packers to throw a last-minute touchdown pass that earned them a victory and the NFC North title.
Chicago opens the 2014 season Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
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- Ben Estes
