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Podlesh unaffected by injury

Bears punter Adam Podlesh said Monday that the hip flexor injury that forced him to miss the final two preseason games did not affect him in Sunday’s season opener against the Colts.

“I didn’t have any discomfort,” Podlesh said. “My hip felt fine. I wasn’t on any painkillers or anything like that at all, not even Advil. I didn’t feel like I had to let up on any punts. It felt good.”

Podlesh averaged 41.6 yards on five punts with a long of 50 yards. He said he wasn’t tentative because he had tested out his leg during the week in practice and was fine.

“I felt like coming through the ball I wasn’t going to have to worry about my hip hurting just because I had had a couple of punt days where I really just didn’t feel anything,” Podlesh said.

Podlesh listed as probable

Bears punter Adam Podlesh practiced without limitations Friday and is listed as probable on the injury report for Sunday’s season opener, meaning there’s a 75 percent chance he’ll play.

Podlesh injured his hip flexor Aug. 18 in a preseason win over the Redskins. If he’s unable to go Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, undrafted rookie Ryan Quigley will take his place.

“Adam’s got a little bit more control with his direction whereas Ryan is more of a bomber-type guy,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “He’s real good at hitting the ball down the middle deep high with hang time whereas Adam can control it better, which is conductive for the Chicago weather with the wind that we get and what we do with our coverage.”

Quigley performed well in Podlesh’s place in the final two preseason games. He averaged 43.6 yards while placing three of seven punts inside-the-20 against the Giants and landed three-of-four punts inside-the-20 while recovering a fumble on a punt return versus the Browns.

“I’m very comfortable [with Quigley],” Toub said. “He’s established himself. He had two solid games for us those last two preseason games. We feel good about Ryan.”

In other injury news, running back Lorenzo Booker (head) missed practice for a third straight day Friday and is listed as questionable. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee), safety Chris Conte (shoulder) and receiver Earl Bennett (hand) are probable.

For the Colts, linebacker Pat Angerer (foot) and guard Joe Reitz (knee) are out; running back Delone Carter (chest) and receivers Austin Collie (head) and T.Y. Hilton (shoulder) are questionable; and running back Mewelde Moore (chest), cornerback Jerraud Powers (knee) and defensive end Cory Redding (knee) are probable.

Toub ‘very concerned’ about Podlesh

Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub is worried about the left hip injury that punter Adam Podlesh sustained in Saturday night’s preseason win over the Redskins.

“I’m very concerned,” Toub told reporters Tuesday at Halas Hall. “It’s a bad injury for a punter to have, a hip flexor, whether it’s his kicking leg or the opposite leg. We’re concerned. He’s going to see a couple specialists and we’ll figure out what we need to do.”

Podlesh suffered the injury while chasing Brandon Banks on a 91-yard punt return touchdown.

“It’s a common injury for kickers,” Toub said. “Sometimes they get it when they’re kicking; it’s on their kicking leg and that’s even worse. We’re fortunate it’s on his opposite leg. It’s more of a stabilizer for him.”

With Podlesh ailing, undrafted rookie Ryan Quigley will handle punting duties Friday night when the Bears visit the Giants at MetLife Stadium. Quigley averaged 39.4 yards on five punts in the first two preseason games.

“He’s going to get a good shot this week,” Toub said. “This is going to be a good test for him. He gets to play with the ones. He hasn’t done that all season. He’s going to be our punter for this game. We’ll see if he can handle it.”