Football – NFL: Former UL star out for Bears

From Daily Advertiser staff reports • July 29, 2009

The 2003 second-round draft pick from UL is tied for 14th in team history with 20 career interceptions.

"I’ll be fine for the season," Tillman, 28, told chicagobears.com. "There’s no need to panic. When I panic, then you can panic. But I’m not panicking, so we’re good.

"(Things) happen. I’m just glad it happened now versus in the season. But I’m all right. I’m always optimistic."

Tillman – who had 91 tackles and three interceptions in 2008, plus a team-best four forced fumbles and 16 pass breakups – will be placed on the physically unable to perform list Friday.

The season opens Sept. 13 in Green Bay, and the Bears have high expectations after acquiring quarterback Jay Cutler in a trade with Denver. A healthy defense will go a long way toward determining whether they get back to the playoffs for the first time since they made the 2006 Super Bowl.

Tillman missed parts of training camp last year while his infant daughter recovered from a heart transplant.