Bears’ Urlacher Expected To Play Against Saints After Mourning Loss Of His Mother

Chicago Bears  linebacker Brian Urlacher's   mother, Lavoyda passed away unexpectedly Monday. She was 51 years old.  The cause of her death hasn’t been made public.

Local law enforcement officials have reportedly ruled out foul play.  Urlacher’s stellar play in the Bears’ 30-12 opening day victory over the Atlanta Falcons earned him the honor of NFC Defensive Player Of The Week. Urlacher returned a fumble for a touchdown and intercepted a pass. The Chicago Sun Times reports he returned to the Bears Team headquarters earlier today, and is expected to be on the field when the Bears visit the Louisiana Superdome to play the Saints on Sunday. The Saints will be without wide receiver Marques Colston, who fractured a collarbone in the Saints’ 34 – 42 season opening loss to the defending Superbowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

Saints’ Quarterback Drew Brees, who lost his mother two years ago, had these comments,   “I can tell you this, For me, as hard as that was and as much as I needed to be with my family at that time, the guys in the locker room — your teammates — are also a part of your family. So a big part of my healing was coming back and being with the guys in the locker room and obviously getting back to playing football because I know that’s what she loved watching me do.”