The Bears, the Cardinals and really, who takes the third game of the preseason like it's bullspit? Bullspit!

I know it's only Week 2 for the Bears -- and frankly, for the Cardinals, who aren't marching their main guys out for a half until next week's Week 4/Week 3 game in Atlanta -- so again, this is more of a ramp-up game. Bruce Arians isn't calling plays until next week (that falls on QB coach Byron Leftwich again.) There will be around 20 plays for the starters, although as usual it could be less if each unit is effective. The biggest story in the game will probably be Chicago QBs Mike Glennon vs. Mitchell Trubisky, so we can see how Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson and company can mess with the immediate Bears future.

(In '06, that Bears preseason game was Matt Leinart's second appearance in the NFL, after playing on only a couple of days of practice -- he signed late -- in New England the week before. Leinart vs Warner. Those were the days.)

-- It'll be the first game for left tackle D.J. Humphries. Arians said Humphries did fine in his first practice Wednesday. I thought he had a slow start to Thursday's work. As with the whole offensive line, he needs to ramp up -- although again, with so much camp, there is plenty of time to get ready.

-- Speaking of getting ready, the same goes for linebacker Karlos Dansby, who has been bothered by a leg issue. Deone Bucannon is ostensibly still on target to return to practice likely after the preseason games are over. Maybe a couple of days before. That inside linebacker crew could be a juggling situation for the first game. Haason Reddick is clearly still learning, and Scooby Wright, while solid on special teams, has shortcomings on defense. Both are players to watch against the Bears.

-- DT Robert Nkemdiche has played well in the preseason but this week, the coaching clearly got harder. Nkemdiche is doing the right things as far as effort and intensity. But the technique must improve, because that is what will beat the better players in the regular season. Everyone has the talent.

-- Others I'll be watching in particular this week: Both punters; Kerwynn Williams on another punt return or two; the down-depth-chart receivers like Carlton Agudosi and Chris Hubert in particular since Brittan Golden (groin) likely won't play; Justin Bethel and Tramon Williams (I haven't forgotten about CB No. 2); and more Budda Baker.

-- It'd be nice to see a little David Johnson but not too much.

-- I'll be curious to see how much John Brown plays. Smoke did much more in practice this week. But he certainly is not 100 percent, and the trainers keep a close eye on that quad injury. Still, Brown made some plays Thursday, and after one touchdown Larry Fitzgerald made sure everyone knew it was Smoke and then made sure to give Brown the side-five.

-- Fitz, by the way, seemed like he was having a great time Thursday. For a guy who is usually tops on the list of wishing training camp wasn't so long, it didn't seem to be impacting him. That's probably good, because after the game, there's still one week left.