Bears QB Orton probable for Sunday

Nov 14, 2008 - 9:23 PM LAKE FOREST, Illinois (Ticker) -- Chicago Bears starting quarterback Kyle Orton is expected to start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Orton, who missed last week's game against the Tennessee Titans with a right ankle injury, worked with the first team in practice Friday.

"Kyle looked better today than he did (Thursday)," coach Lovie Smith said. "So we're keeping our fingers crossed with him. See how it goes (Saturday), but he's gotten better each day. There's no reason to think that won't continue through (Sunday)."

The Bears (5-4) enter Sunday's game one game ahead of Green Bay and Minnesota in the NFC North.

Orton, who earned the starting job in training camp after an open competition with former starter Rex Grossman, was playing well before spraining his ankle in the Bears' 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions on November 2.

Grossman started last week in a 21-14 loss to the unbeaten Tennessee Titans.