The Bears did not take long to address the loss of guard Lance Louis, signing veteran guard center Andre Gurode on Tuesday and waiving veteran defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.
Gurode, 6-4, 318, was a five-time Pro Bowl center for the Dallas Cowboys and has started 127 of 151 games played over 10 seasons with the Cowboys (2002-10) and Baltimore Ravens last year after having offseason knee surgery. He was a second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2002, the second offensive lineman taken after the Bears selected Marc Colombo No. 29.
Gurode gained some unwanted notice in 2006 when as a Dallas Cowboy he had his helmet ripped off by then-Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who then stomped on Gurodes face. The wound required 30 stitches and resulted in a five-game suspension for Haynesworth, the apparent role model for Ndamukong Suh.
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The signing points to some continuing uncertainty with the health of Chris Spencer, who suffered a knee injury in the Minnesota game, left for a series, tried to play again in the first half but was out for the second half. Gurode signed with the Ravens
The line was further reinforced with the signing of rookie Derek Dennis, signed as an undrafted free agent b Miami and playing for New England in the preseason. To make room for Dennis the Bears cut and guard Chris Riley.
The Bears also shuffled practice-squad wide receivers, adding Dale Moss and terminating the contract of Raymond Radway.