Urlacher expects to play in season opener

CHICAGO, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said he's confident he will play in the Sept. 9 season opener against Indianapolis after undergoing knee surgery.

Urlacher told a Thursday news conference he believes he will be ready to play against the Indianapolis Colts after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

He said he was told he'll be ready by Sept. 9 and "that's all I care about."

The linebacker said Tuesday's surgery was the first procedure on his knee, but a CSNChicago.com report said the player underwent a similar procedure immediately after he suffered a second-degree medial collateral ligament sprain and partially sprained posterior collateral ligament during the Jan. 1 season-ender against the Minnesota Vikings.

Urlacher said he felt good during the first two days of training camp this summer but he began to feel knee pain July 28, the first practice in pads. His knee then began swelling and it soon became clear he needed surgery.

"You never want to get surgery," Urlacher said. "If you can avoid it, you want to. But this is kind of a last resort to get it cleaned out and get the swelling down."