Pain in Neck to Keep Bears’ McMahon From Starting Against Vikings Tonight

Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon, still suffering from neck spasms and a stiff neck, will not start in tonight’s nationally televised game at Minneapolis, Bear Coach Mike Ditka said Wednesday.

Steve Fuller, the team’s No. 1 backup, will replace McMahon in the starting lineup for the unbeaten Bears, 2-0.

McMahon began suffering the neck spasms last Wednesday after practice but played in Sunday’s 20-7 win over New England. He spent Sunday night and Monday in Lake Forest Hospital in traction but insisted Tuesday that he would play against the Vikings.

However, in a statement, Ditka said that McMahon would not play and would be replaced by Fuller, who made a brief appearance when he replaced McMahon at the end of last Sunday’s win over New England.

The injury-prone McMahon was sidelined last November with a lacerated kidney. Last year he also suffered a broken thumb and had back problems.

Ditka insisted that if McMahon was not able to practice this week he would not start against Minnesota.

Chicago, however, will have the services of running back Walter Payton and the club’s top receiver, Dennis McKinnon, for the game. Payton suffered bruised ribs last Sunday, while McKinnon sustained a hip pointer.