Starters take supporting roles today for Rams, Bears

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams aren't taking any chances with Marshall Faulk.

For the second straight preseason game, the three-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year will sit out today when the Rams host the Bears. Faulk has gained more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four consecutive season, and coach Mike Martz doesn't want to risk injury.

"I don't know that Marshall needs to play in the preseason," Martz said. "He's in great shape. He gets a lot of work in practice. He'll do a little work maybe in the preseason but we'll worry about that in the next week or two."

Both teams are coming off Saturday night losses in their preseason openers. The Rams lost 28-26 at Tennessee while the Bears lost to Denver, 27-3.

The Bears, who won the NFC Central a year ago, are one of three opponents the Rams will face in both the preseason and regular season -- San Diego and Kansas City are the others. Chicago will return to St. Louis for a Monday night game on Nov. 18.

"You never like playing a team you'll play in the regular season," Martz said. "I don't like it. Our next three games are like that."

Both coaches want to play their regulars as little as possible and plan to take a look at players fighting for roster spots.

Chicago coach Dick Jauron said his starters will play sparingly for the second straight game because he needs to see the reserves, who struggled last week. Chicago gained just 44 total yards and turned the ball over four times. The defense allowed 322 yards.

"We need to see a lot of those young players, see them again and make sure we have answers for the backup positions before we get to opening day," Jauron said. "Our first stringers will play a number of plays not significantly more than they did in the first game. We'd like to win ever game, but we're more interested in finding out some answers about a lot of players."

Third-team quarterback Henry Burris will play the majority of plays for Chicago. Jim Miller will start and Chris Chandler is scheduled to see a little action.

Martz said quarterback Kurt Warner "will probably play the first quarter" before giving way to Marc Bulger. Jamie Martin, the second-string quarterback, is out with a slight shoulder separation he suffered in the third quarter against Tennessee.

Bulger played five series in the opener, completing 13 of 20 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He led the Rams on two scoring drives, including an 82-yard march that cut the deficit to two points with less than a minute to play.

"This is invaluable for Marc Bulger," Martz said. "I'm excited about this opportunity for him."

Despite getting more playing time, Bulger doesn't view this as an audition.

"I know I can play," Bulger said. "I know I need to prove it to everyone else. I'm going to approach it the same as I did last week. I've gotten more reps this week in practice."

Notes: The two teams have met just three times before in the preseason. The last meeting was in 1999 when the Bears scored a 38-24 victory. Chicago won a 28-14 matchup in 1965 while the Rams earned a 42-14 win in 1951. In the regular season, Chicago holds a 48-33-3 advantage. ... the Bears are still working out their left tackle spot, where five-year veteran Bernard Robertson is ahead of first-round draft pick Marc Colombo. Last year's starter, Blake Brockermeyer was cut in the off-season for salary cap reasons ... Rams CB Aeneas Williams will play despite suffering a bruised left leg in a collision with receiver Yo Murphy earlier this week in practice.