He was also able to drop back, at somewhat less than full speed, and throw some passes on the side when he wasn't working with the starters.

"It's early in the week, but I'm preparing like I am (going to start)," Orton said. "It's gotten better every day, so hopefully it just continues to do that."

Coach Lovie Smith said Orton looked "pretty good" at practice and that he doesn't have to be 100 percent to start in Green Bay.

"Who is 100 percent this time of the year?" Smith said. "We won't let Kyle play if he can't protect himself (or) if we just don't feel like he's ready to go. Beyond that, it's pretty subjective. We'll know if he's ready to go. If he continues to make progress like he has, I think he has a good chance to play."

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said Orton's status may depend on how he feels today after Wednesday's work.

"If it feels good, obviously he can get more reps (today)," Turner said. "If not, then we'll just do about the same and bring him along."

--Lovie Smith has never lost a game as a head coach at Green Bay's Lambeau Field, winning on all four trips since taking over as the Bears' boss in 2004.

Smith's first win with the Bears was at Lambeau, 21-10 on Sept. 19, 2004. In '05, the Bears swept the Packers, winning 19-7 at home and then 24-17 on the road. The Super Bowl team opened the '06 regular season with a 26-0 victory in Green Bay, and Smith enjoyed another sweep last year, winning 27-20 there and 35-7 at Soldier Field.

"We play the same type of ball up there," Smith said. "It's not like we change up our philosophies. We've been able to execute up there and find a way to win, and hopefully we'll be able to this time. They're a good football team. We have a pack right now in the NFC North. This is a tight competition going on."

The Bears and Vikings are tied for first in the NFC North at 5-4, and the Packers are a game back at 4-5.

--Rex Grossman said his mindset has to be the same this week as it was last, when he assumed he would be the starter.

"I've got to go out there and prepare like I'm going to play the whole game," Grossman said. "Obviously I don't know what's going on, so that's how I'm going to approach it."

The good news is that Grossman is 3-0 at Lambeau Field. The bad news is his passer rating last week was 64.4 in his first start of the season.

"I'm feeling pretty good about that stadium," he said. "I've got a good vibe going in there."

BY THE NUMBERS: 37 -- Receptions by rookie Matt Forte, second only to Reggie Bush among NFL running backs.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't rehab at all. I just stretch and go to practice. That's all I do. It's not that big of a deal. I don't miss practice, I don't take time off or anything like that." -- Bears LB Brian Urlacher when asked about the arthritic back that frequently kept him out of practice last year.