Dils, Fuller to Start Monday Night in Chicago

Coaches John Robinson of the Rams and Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears announced Friday that they would not risk starting injured quarterbacks Steve Bartkowski and Jim McMahon in Monday night’s game at Soldier Field.

So, for the second week in a row, Steve Dils will start in place of Bartkowski for the Rams, and the Bears will go with Steve Fuller in place of McMahon.

Bartkowski said this week that he felt good enough to play against the Bears, but Robinson has decided to rest his quarterback’s ailing right knee for another week.

McMahon, who has already missed three games this season with a shoulder injury, did not throw a pass in practice either Thursday or Friday, prompting Ditka to make the switch to Fuller.

Both Bartkowski and McMahon will be in uniform and available to play.

Ram Notes

Tght end Tony Hunter has a slight stress fracture of the shin, but the Rams have decided not to put him on injured reserve, thinking he might be able to play against New Orleans a week from Sunday. . . . The Rams, as expected, put nose tackle Charles DeJurnett on injured reserve and activated nose tackle Alvin Wright to take his spot. . . . Bear All-Pro defensive end Richard Dent will start Monday night against the Rams despite suffering a mild case of pleurisy, an inflammation in the lining of the lungs. Dent practiced Thursday and Friday. . . . Ram Coach John Robinson responded Friday to Bear Coach Mike Ditka’s mispronunciation of quarterback Steve Dils’ name. “If he’s going to call my guy Diles, I’m going to call his guy McMillen,” Robinson said. . . . The Rams are not returning home after the Chicago game. They will fly to New Orleans early Tuesday morning and spend the week there preparation for their game the following Sunday with the Saints.