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Bears' Charles Tillman: Rookie Kyle Fuller is an up-and-coming star

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Injured Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman thinks his replacement, rookie Kyle Fuller, is on the verge of being a star in the NFL.

Tillman is out for the season after suffering a ruptured right triceps in a Week 2 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Fuller was the team's first round pick (14th overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Tillman, who is scheduled to get the cast off his right arm removed this week, said he has been very impressed by what Fuller has been able to do after the first six games this season.

"I really think he’s an up-and-coming rising star,” Tillman said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “And so far he has been consistent. One of the things I try to do when I play…or when I was playing…was (to) just be consistent. And so far Kyle has been consistent. That’s all you can ask from a player.”

Fuller has 30 total tackles this season, and he is tied for the league lead in both interceptions and fumble recoveries with three each.

The phrase “carted off” has become part of the football vocabulary

Tillman also came away impressed after Chicago's 27-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, despite the numerous injuries to the linebacker corps. Tillman said he was concerned prior to the game about the influx of new faces on defense. 

“I was nervous, I can’t even lie to you, like a lot of fans,” Tillman said.

The Bears (3-3) host the Miami Dolphins (2-3) on Sunday.

- Scooby Axson