National Football League

Bears' Urlacher having MRI on knee

Published Jan. 2, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Chicago Bears Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher has scheduled an MRI on his injured left knee.

Urlacher sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee when it bent awkwardly as he was helping break up a pass late in Sunday's season-ending win at Minnesota. He was able to walk off the field without assistance but was in enough pain initially that he briefly covered his face with his hand.

Coach Lovie Smith said Monday that Urlacher was ''getting an MRI done right now as I speak'' and that it will ''hopefully'' not reveal more structural damage. Urlacher just finished his 12th NFL season.