The Bucs also signed CB Kyle Arrington to the practice squad. The team released CB Brandon Sumrall from the practice squad.

PLAYER NOTES

--TE Jerramy Stevens was activated from the reserve/suspended list. He was suspended for the first two games for his conviction on DUI charges in 2007. Stevens says he remained in good shape and he will provide a compliment for TE's Alex Smith and John Gilmore.

--G Davin Joseph, who has missed two games with a broken foot, could return next week against the Green Bay Packers.

--LB Derrick Brooks did not practice Wednesday and will be questionable for Sunday's game at Chicago. But Brooks is expected to play. He has never missed a game in his pro career.

--LB Greg White leads the Bucs with 2.5 sacks. He was the Bucs sackmaster last season with eight and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension.

--WR Ike Hilliard has 10 receptions this season to lead the team, with nine of them resulting in first downs.

GAME PLAN: This figures to be a defensive struggle, so much so, the best defense on Sunday will probably win the game.

Both teams are capable of scoring on defense and creating turnovers and field position. Both have roots in the Tampa Two. Bears coach Lovie Smith began his pro coaching career in Tampa Bay under Tony Dungy.

But the Bears defense has evolved. Bucs coach Jon Gruden says they will walk 11 players to the line of scrimmage and defy you to figure out which players are rushing and which ones are dropping into coverage. It's a scheme that managed to confuse Colts QB Peyton Manning.

"I don't see any similarities (between defenses)," Gruden said. "None. Zero. The Bears are taking their one-gap over under scheme and it looks like an 11-up defense every snap. Briggs and Urlacher and all the linebackers and safeties are on the line of scrimmage. They have had tremendous success. It's the rave of the league right now. Everybody's talking about them and they are great talents, too. But there are no similarities, none whatsoever, that I can see."

Offensively, both teams want to run the football first to set up play action passes. The Bucs' strength on offense is at running back where Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn form a terrific combination of power and speed. Graham gets a rap for being slow, but he already has runs of 46 and 68 yards this season, the longest of his career.

"They're going to try to hammer you running the ball and they're committed to doing that," Gruden said. "They do have some really athletic tight ends. The play-action pass. Coach Turner is still very creative in my opinion. They have some good gadgets and trickery that they're not afraid to call and they've got some creative ways to get the ball on the perimeter. But they're going to play great defense. I think they're going to try to run the ball, be smart with the ball. I think that's the goal that they have."

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Bears RB Matt Forte vs. Bucs MLB Barrett Ruud -- The Bears rookie has 215 yards on 46 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown. Ruud is second on the team in tackles with 14.

Bears LT John St. Clair vs. Bucs DE Gaines Adams: The Bucs' second-year pro is coming off a two-sack game against the Falcons and is making strides as a dominant pass rusher.

Bears DE Alex Brown vs. Bucs LT Donald Penn: This is the weak point of the Bucs' offensive line. Penn has struggled against some of the NFL's elite pass rushers, particularly those as athletic as Brown.

INJURY IMPACT: RG Davin Joseph is out with a broken foot. Rookie G Jeremy Zuttah will make his third NFL start.

--WR Joey Galloway is questionable with a right foot sprain, but he isn't expected to play or practice this week. The Bucs will move Antonio Bryant to split end and start Michael Clayton at flanker.

--LB Derrick Brooks is questionable with a right hamstring strain. He will be limited to some running plays. Cato June will remain on the field with Barrett Ruud on passing downs. Geno Hayes could also see time at weakside linebacker.

--CB Aqib Talib has a hamstring strain but is expected to play.