Matt

Toeaina

The NFL Combine record-holder on the bench press came to camp noticeably stronger after working out like a maniac during the offseason. He’s drawn early-camp praise from the coaching staff for his versatility, speed, strength and athleticism. “Toeanina’s going to have his hands full,” DC Rod Marinelli said Thursday.

The injury was poor timing for a player popularly picked to break out as the Bears’ new starting nose tackle. Matt Toeaina will likely enter the season as the starter, allowing Paea to get back up to full speed.

Paea sprained his left ankle Saturday and is expected to miss at least a week. Coach Lovie Smith confirmed that the second-year man has already done enough to keep his starting nose tackle job ahead of veteran Matt Toeania.

It looks like Toeaina has done enough to surpass Anthony Adams on the depth chart. Toeaina was a force in Chicago’s front four rotation early last season, but wore down in the latter weeks. Now with a full season under his belt, Toeaina will look to get consistent output on a weekly basis.

The Bears’ starting nose tackle, Toeania will be replaced by Anthony Adams next to “three-technique” Henry Melton. Adams is better against the run, anyway, so we wouldn’t expect a noticeable difference on Chicago’s interior.

The Bears are also waiting to see how serious Julius Peppers’ knee injury is after he left the locker room limping. Anthony Adams would fill in if Toeania misses this week’s game against the Vikings.

Toeaina appeared in just three games this season and registered four tackles. After being the starting nose tackle in 2011, he fell behind Stepen Paea and Nate Collins on the depth chart this season. Toeaina is signed for $760,000 in 2013. Brandon has never appeared in an NFL game after entering the league in 2011 out of Oklahoma.

Toeaina, coming off of arthroscopic knee surgery, was set to make $760,000 in 2013 base salary, $290,000 in roster bonuses, and a $75,000 workout bonus. That’s too much for a bit player who played in just three games last year due to the knee injury. Toeaina reportedly declined a pay cut.

Toeaina underwent a scope two days after Christmas, but he still isn’t right. The former sixth-round pick has played in all 16 games just once in his five-year career. Toeaina will have to prove his health before latching on elsewhere.

The Bengals seem high on the Oregon product, and he could help ease the loss of Shaun Smith. Toeania looks like a a situational, run-stuffing reserve.