Earl, a fourth-round pick (122nd overall) of the Texans in 2004, has not played in the NFL the past two seasons after suffering a foot injury (torn Lisfranc ligament) in a preseason game against the Bears in 2007. But Earl attended last week's minicamp on a tryout basis, and will go to training camp in July to compete for playing time with starters Kevin Payne and Josh Bullocks, along with Craig Steltz, Danieal Manning and Zackary Bowman. Earl suffered the foot injury while tackling Cedric Benson in a preseason game and missed the entire '07 season. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder was released by the Texans Aug. 29, 2008.

Earl played in 37 games in three seasons with the Texans, making 31 starts. He has 186 career tackles, two sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble. Earl's defensive backs coach in Houston was Jon Hoke, who was hired to fill the same position with the Bears in January, replacing Steven Wilks.

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The Bears lost versatile veteran offensive lineman John St. Clair, who started 16 games at left tackle last season, in free agency. And they lost ORT John Tait to retirement. But they signed former Browns OT Kevin Shaffer, who is expected to battle UFA Frank Omiyale for the ORT spot.

The additions of Shaffer and Omiyale have lessened the impact of the loss of St. Clair and Tait but, on paper, the team isn't any better up front than last year, when the offensive line was mediocre. Still, Shaffer and Omiyale make the need for drafting a lineman early less critical. However, it wouldn't be a shock if Jerry Angelo still went big in Round 1, but now he can have a little more flexibility to consider a wide receiver or a pass rusher.

TEAM NEEDS

1. Wide receiver: The Bears don't have a No. 1, and it's still a stretch to call Devin Hester a No. 2. The only other wide receiver on the roster with NFL experience is Rashied Davis, who is a No. 3 at best but probably no better than a No. 4 on a good team. The Bears need a big receiver, one with speed to stretch the field or enough physicality to work the middle.

Last year, the combined total of the five other wide receivers currently on the Bears' roster - John Broussard, Devin Aromashodu, Davis, Brandon Rideau and Earl Bennett -- was 35 catches and 445 yards, all by Davis.

2. Offensive tackle: Last year's first-round draft pick, Chris Williams, should start at left tackle after missing much of last season following training camp back injury. He played a handful of snaps in the second half of last season, mostly on special teams. ORT John Tait has retired, and unrestricted free agent John St. Clair, a 16-game starter at left tackle, signed with the Browns. UFA Frank Omiyale, who started one game in four seasons with the Panthers, and Kevin Shaffer, who was recently cut by the Browns, will compete for the ORT job, although Omiyale could move inside to challenge OLG Josh Beekman.

3.Pass-rushing DE: Nobody on the team had more than six sacks and if the Bears can't get pressure with the front four the defense struggles, as it did much of last season.

MEDICAL WATCH: NT Dusty Dvoracek (biceps), SS Kevin Payne (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (shoulder) and CB Trumaine McBride (shoulder) and LB Hunter Hillenmeyer (NFLPA meetings, hand) did not participate in any of last week's minicamp activities. All should be healthy before training camp begins.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--S Mike Brown makes the defense better when he's on the field, but in the past few seasons he hasn't been able to stay healthy, so he's unlikely to be brought back.

--QB Rex Grossman will be allowed to leave and seek a fresh start with a change of scenery.

--WR Brandon Lloyd started off impressively last season but then missed six weeks with a sprained knee and disappeared for most of the remainder of the season.

--OLB Darrell McClover doesn't figure as a defensive contributor, but he was a standout on special teams.

--S Brandon McGowan is a physical, in-the-box type but has been hurt more often than not, but he could be back at a bargain price.

--OT Fred Miller was signed late in the season strictly as insurance and never played. He will give retirement a second try.

--S Cameron Worrell was brought back late as insurance but doesn't figure to return.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--CB Marcus Hamilton: ERFA; $460,000/1 yr.

--RB Kevin Jones: UFA; $3.5M/2 yrs, $1M SB.

--LB Nick Roach: ERFA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--FS Josh Bullocks: UFA Saints; 1 yr, $525,000 guaranteed.

--OT Frank Omiyale: UFA Panthers; $11.5M/4 yrs, $5.5M SB.

--OT Kevin Shaffer: FA Browns; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

--WR Marty Booker (released).

--LB Gilbert Gardner (released).

--OG Terrence Metcalf (released).

--LB Marcus Riley (released).

--T/G John St. Clair: UFA Browns; $9M/3 yrs, $600,000 guaranteed.

--OT John Tait (retired).