LAKE FOREST—The Bears have the best pair of wide receivers in the NFL, so naturally they went out and added Santonio Holmes to their roster.That’s largely sarcasm, but the Bears reportedly did sign Holmes, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. With Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery on the roster, the Bears aren’t exactly desperate for receiver help, at least in so far as starters go.Dig a little deeper, though, and you see a wide receiver corps that’s not exactly stupendous top to bottom. Marquess Wilson underwent surgery on a collarbone injury. If pressed into duty, Eric Weems and Josh Morgan aren’t going to scare the league’s top defensive backs. Armanti Edwards is on the roster here. Holmes is older (30) and his last (and only) 1,000-yard season was 2009, before he was traded from the Steelers to the Jets. His contract looked horrible the entire time he spent in New york and he averaged just 11 games played per year there. Still, it can’t be too expensive of a proposition and if it works out, the Bears will see a little bump in terms of depth, which would be helpful particularly if they want to spread the field.

Chad Henne passed for 130 yards and a touchdown, and Blake Bortles threw for 160 in relief before backup quarterback Jordan Palmer rallied the Bears to a 20-19 preseason victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.Palmer, trying to beat out Jimmy Clausen for the No. 2 job, led the Bears to two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Senorise Perry scored on a 5-yard run with 50 seconds left, and C.J. Wilson intercepted a pass to seal the win after Henne and Bortles picked the Bears apart.Jared Allen made his first appearance for the Bears. The star offseason defensive acquisition finished with one tackle for a loss on an otherwise quiet night. He sat out last week’s opening win over Philadelphia after he missed practices because his wife had a baby.Henne showed mobility in the pocket and completed 12 of 17 passes before leaving with a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.Bortles looked sharp again after an impressive showing last week in a victory over Tampa Bay. The No. 3 pick in the draft, he went 11 for 17, but the Jaguars came away with the loss.Jay Cutler completed 7 of 9 passes for 79 yards and called it a night after throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall early in the second quarter.Jimmy Clausen got the first call after Cutler left the game, with Palmer serving as the second man in relief in a flip from the preseason opener. But Clausen took a step back after a strong performance last week.The former Notre Dame star and Carolina Panther went 11 of 15 for 94 yards. He also had a pass intercepted by Josh Evans early in the third quarter off linebacker Telvin Smith‘s deflection.Palmer started the fourth quarter and threw for 73 yards, completing 6 of 9 passes.Martellus Bennett had a 25-yard catch after being suspended by the team last week for an altercation in practice with cornerback Kyle Fuller, who left this game after injuring his ankle on the opening possession.Jacksonville’s Toby Gerhart ran for 19 yards in his first appearance with the Jaguars. The former Minnesota Vikings backup had missed nearly two weeks because of a hip flexor injury.Marqise Lee, a standout in camp, caught four passes for 27 yards and a touchdown after struggling against Tampa Bay. Mercedes Lewis had 46 yards on three receptions.The Jaguars scored on all three first-quarter possessions while grabbing a 13-0 lead, with Josh Scobee kicking a pair of field goals and Henne hitting Lee with a 6-yard touchdown pass after another special-teams gaffe by Bears.After giving up a 102-yard kickoff return to Philadelphia’s Josh Huff, this time it was a fumble by Eric Weems on the kickoff after Scobee’s second field goal — a 25-yarder. Will Blackmon stripped him, Jacksonville took over on the Bears 23, and Henne connected with Lee after a third-down sack by Trevor Scott earlier in the drive got wiped out by an illegal contact call against Kelvin Hayden.The Bears cut it to 13-7 early in the second quarter, when Cutler hit Marshall with a 4-yarder to cap a 10-play drive. But a 43-yard field goal by Scobee late in the half made it 16-7.

EVANSTON—Last week it was announced that Northwestern’s Venric Mark had been suspended for the first two games of the season, meaning that the Wildcats would be without their most dynamic playmaker to start 2014. Now they’ll be without him all year, as the school announced Wednesday evening that Mark was transferring.The school says Mark is transferring for personal reasons, as he wants to play football closer to his family.

“Today is a difficult day for our football family and, most importantly, for Venric,” said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald in a release. “We love him, and there is no doubt that we’re going to miss him as both a person and player. But this is unquestionably what is best for Venric and those closest to him.”

There is no word on where Mark will transfer, but he is originally from Texas.Mark was limited to only three games last season due to injuries, but in 2012 he had 2,166 all-purpose yards and scored 15 touchdowns serving as a running back and returner on special teams.And as if the loss of Mark wasn’t a big enough blow, Northwestern also announced that receiver Christian Jones will miss the entire 2014 season with a knee injury he suffered in practice. Jones was Northwestern’s leading receiver last year, finishing the year with 54 catches for 668 yards and four touchdowns.That is a whole lot of production that the Wildcats offense is going to need to replace in 2014.

SOUTH BEND—Everett Golson has officially come all the way back.To the surprise of essentially no one, Brian Kelly announced after practice Wednesday that the junior quarterback will be under center for the Fighting Irish’s season opener against Rice, having beaten out redshirt freshman Malik Zaire. Golson missed the entire 2013 season through academic suspension.”His spring practice and his leadership in the summer and camp here, he’s put himself in a position to get that opportunity,” Kelly said, per Blue and Gold Illustrated.As a redshirt freshman, Golson started 10 games for Notre Dame in its undefeated march to the 2012 BCS championship game, finishing the season with 2,405 passing yards, a 12-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 298 rushing yards.Golson told reporters he’d been informed of Kelly’s decision Monday.

“It’s an accomplishment knowing everything that has transpired,” he said.

Kelly said Zaire, the former four-star dual-threat quarterback from Dayton, Ohio, “wasn’t happy” with the decision, but that Kelly would have been “disappointed” if he had reacted differently.

BULLS REGULAR SEASON
Date    Opp.     Time
Oct 29    @NY    8:00 PM
Oct 31    Cle    8:00 PM
Nov 1    @Min    8:00 PM
Nov 4    Orl    8:00 PM
Nov 5    @Mil    8:00 PM
Nov 7    @Phi    7:00 PM
Nov 8    Bos    8:00 PM
Nov 10    Det    8:00 PM
Nov 13    @Tor    8:00 PM
Nov 15    Ind    8:00 PM
Nov 17    @LAC    10:30 PM
Nov 20    @Sac    10:30 PM
Nov 21    @Port    10:30 PM
Nov 24    @Utah    9:00 PM
Nov 25    @Den    9:00 PM
Nov 28    @Bos    1:00 PM
Nov 30    @Brook 3:00 PM
Dec 2    Dal    8:00 PM
Dec 3    @Char    7:00 PM
Dec 6    GS    8:00 PM
Dec 10    Brook    8:00 PM
Dec 12    Port    7:00 PM
Dec 14    @Mia    6:00 PM
Dec 15    @Atl    7:30 PM
Dec 18    NY    8:00 PM
Dec 19    @Mem    8:00 PM
Dec 22    Tor    8:00 PM
Dec 23    @Wash    7:00 PM
Dec 25    LAL    8:00 PM
Dec 27    NO    8:00 PM
Dec 29    @Ind    7:00 PM
Dec 30    Brook    8:00 PM
Jan 1    Den    8:00 PM
Jan 3    Bos    8:00 PM
Jan 5    Hou    8:00 PM
Jan 7    Utah    8:00 PM
Jan 9    @Wash    8:00 PM
Jan 10    Mil    8:00 PM
Jan 12    Orl    8:00 PM
Jan 14    Wash    8:00 PM
Jan 16    @Bos    7:30 PM
Jan 17    Atl    8:00 PM
Jan 19    @Cle    8:00 PM
Jan 22    SA    8:00 PM
Jan 23    @Dal    8:00 PM
Jan 25    Mia    1:00 PM
Jan 27    @GS    10:30 PM
Jan 29    @LAL    10:30 PM
Jan 30    @Pho    10:30 PM
Feb 4    @Hou    8:00 PM
Feb 7    @NO    7:00 PM
Feb 8    @Orl    6:00 PM
Feb 10    Sac    8:00 PM
Feb 12    Cle    8:00 PM
Feb 20    @Det    7:30 PM
Feb 21    Pho    8:00 PM
Feb 23    Mil    8:00 PM
Feb 25    Char    8:00 PM
Feb 27    Min    8:00 PM
Mar 1    LAC    1:00 PM
Mar 3    Wash    8:00 PM
Mar 5    OKC    8:00 PM
Mar 6    @Ind    7:00 PM
Mar 8    @SA    1:00 PM
Mar 9    Mem    8:00 PM
Mar 11    @Phi    7:00 PM
Mar 13    @Char    7:00 PM
Mar 15    @OKC    1:00 PM
Mar 18    Ind    8:00 PM
Mar 20    Tor    8:00 PM
Mar 21    @Det    7:30 PM
Mar 23    Char    8:00 PM
Mar 25    @Tor    7:30 PM
Mar 28    NY    8:00 PM
Apr 1    @Mil    8:00 PM
Apr 3    Det    8:00 PM
Apr 5    @Cle    3:30 PM
Apr 8    @Orl    7:00 PM
Apr 9    @Mia    8:00 PM
Apr 11    Phi    8:00 PM
Apr 13    @Brook 7:30 PM
Apr 15    Atl    8:00 PM

BOURBONNAIS—Bears tight end Martellus Bennett has been reinstated by the team and can return to practice six days after he was suspended for fighting with rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller.The official reason was listed as “conduct detrimental to the team.” Bennett slammed Fuller to the ground after the rookie tried to strip the ball in what was an otherwise innocuous play.Via the Chicago Tribune, Bennett admitted Sunday, “I think I could have handled the situation differently,” adding, “Everything in life is about learning lessons. Whatever situation you’re going on through life, you always learn from it. Whether it’s good or bad, there’s always a lesson or moral to the story.”

Bennett says he was welcomed back by his teammates and doesn’t expect the incident to change how he approaches the game.

“I feel like I’ve always been a great teammate,” he said. “I think they want me to continue to be the player I’ve been and continue to play the way I’ve been playing and perform highly on the field.”

Jay Cutler popped the cork on his 2014 campaign Friday night with a convincing performance for the Bears in a 34-28 preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles. After Marc Trestman’s team went three-and-out on their first series, Cutler marched the Bears on a 13-play, 69-yard drive that chewed through Philly’s defense with authority. The drive was capped by Cutler’s pinpoint touchdown pass between a pair of Eagles defenders to intriguing tight end Zach Miller up the seam. “Yeah, three-and-out, I figured we would get back into it and get another drive, which I’m glad we did,” Cutler told reporters, per Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. “We were backed up a few times, overcame a few penalties. So, it was a good drive for us.” Cutler displayed midseason chemistry with Brandon Marshall and finished his night with a passer rating of 112.7 before the backups took over. We’ve questioned the remainder of Chicago’s quarterback room, but Trestman’s coaching of Jordan Palmer, Jimmy Clausen and rookie David Fales was evident against the Eagles. There’s no late-period Josh McCown in this group, but the trio of reserves lashed the Eagles to the tune of 29-of-44 passing for 399 yards and four scores. It’s just one game in the center of August, but Trestman doesn’t appear to have lost his touch at the quarterback position.

EVANSTON—Northwestern will be without one of its most versatile weapons to start the season, as the school announced Friday that Venric Mark has been suspended for the first two games of the season.“I made a mistake and am prepared to deal with the consequences of that,” said Mark in a statement through the school. “There’s no one that holds me to a higher standard than the one I hold myself to, so nobody is more disappointed than I am. First and foremost, I feel like I let my teammates down, and that feels the worst. I’m grateful to have another season to compete with this team. My focus moving forward is on working as hard as I can in camp and supporting my teammates in practice and on gamedays so that we can achieve our goals this season.”Exactly what that mistake is that Mark made, the school isn’t saying. Whatever it is, Mark’s absence is a big loss for the Wildcats as they open their season with games against Cal and Northern Illinois.The good news for Northwestern is that it’s used to not having Mark around, as injuries limited him to only three games last season. But when Mark is on the field he makes a large impact as a running back, receiver and returner. During the 2012 season he had 2,166 all-purpose yards and scored 15 touchdowns.
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CHAMPAIGN—Illinois linebacker Mike Svetina will miss the start of the season after suffering a broken foot in practice earlier this week. Tim Beckman confirmed the injury, which is expected to keep Svetina sidelined for eight to ten weeks, while speaking to reporters on Thursday. via CSN Chicago: “Mike had a fifth metatarsal break in the foot, had the surgery last night, it was great. It was a clear-cut fracture, so you’re talking eight to 10 weeks that he’s going to be out right now,” Beckman said.

BOURBONNAIS—Bears tight end Martellus Bennett picked a fight with first-round draft pick Kyle Fuller on Monday, slamming him to the ground after Fuller tried to strip the ball from him.Bears tight end Martellus Bennett picked a fight with first-round draft pick Kyle Fuller on Monday, slamming him to the ground after Fuller tried to strip the ball from him.The Bears have responded harshly, announcing Tuesday that they’ve suspended Bennett indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team and have fined him an undisclosed amount.The punishment left much of Twitter shaking its collective head in confusion, including former Bears scout Mike McCartney.The Bears have responded harshly, announcing Tuesday that they’ve suspended Bennett indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team and have fined him an undisclosed amount.The punishment left much of Twitter shaking its collective head in confusion, including former Bears scout Mike McCartney.More than the brief fight, though, the team might not have been pleased with Bennett’s reaction afterward.

“I come to training camp for one reason and that’s to prepare to win a championship,” Bennett told reporters Monday. “I play hard and go hard every single day. I’m probably one of the most violent people on the field. That’s just my style of play. I’m going to continue to play the same way I always play. That’s what I’m here for.”

Bears general manager Phil Emery said the suspension would be determined by how well talks between Bennett — who’s coming off a career-best performance last year with 65 catches, 759 yards and five touchdowns — and team officials proceed in the coming days. “We look forward to getting him back as soon as possible,” Emery said.

But the Chicago Tribune had this to write: “The read-between-the-lines version speaks loud and clear that the Bears are not going to tolerate volatile and divisive behavior during a season in which they have such high expectations.”