Bears’ Brian Urlacher has knee surgery

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and still hopes to be ready for the season opener.

The Bears said that Urlacher had an arthroscopic debridement procedure Tuesday morning to help relieve swelling in the knee and was back at training camp by 10 a.m. He missed the off-season training program after spraining the medial collateral ligament and partially spraining the posterior cruciate ligament in the final game last year against Minnesota.

Urlacher was ready for the start of camp, but has not practiced since July 31 and was away from the team recently for what were described as personal reasons. Even so, he said Sunday that he expects to be ready for the opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 9.

Benson, Goodell talk

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York to discuss matters concerning both the team and the league.

While the NFL and the Saints are providing very few details, Saints spokesman Greg Bensel says the meeting was productive and that Benson looks forward to many more discussions with the commissioner.

The meeting comes amid the backdrop of lawsuits filed by current and former Saints players who’ve challenged the findings of the NFL’s bounty investigation. Benson also has hired the firm of former FBI Director Louis Freeh to investigate the accuracy of the league’s bounty probe.

Etc.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has taken another important step forward in his recovery from reconstructive surgery on his left knee: taking part in his first full-pads practice since Dec. 24. Peterson was finally cleared for full activity Tuesday. He carried the ball only a handful of times in full team drills with the first-team offense, and he wasn’t touched by the defense.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings has been sidelined since he sustained a concussion Aug. 3 and it’s not clear when he’ll be able to practice again. Jennings got a concussion in the Packers’ “Family Night” scrimmage and hasn’t been on the field since. He is considered unlikely to play in Thursday night’s exhibition against Cleveland at Lambeau Field.

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has whiplash symptoms, according to Coach Andy Reid, but no concussion after a collision Monday. Asomugha skipped Philadelphia’s Tuesday walkthrough after the collision with safety Nate Allen left him motionless on the turf for several minutes. A day later, he had a laceration on his lip and a sore neck.

Denver Broncos right guard Chris Kuper broke his left forearm at practice Tuesday and could miss up to six weeks. Kuper got caught at the bottom of a pile during team drills early in practice. ... Washington Redskins defensive tackle Chris Neild is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The second-year player was injured during Monday’s practice. ... New York Giants defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is being treated for a blood clot in his left calf.

After an impressive quarter in San Francisco’s preseason opener last week, Colin Kaepernick has grabbed a clear lead in the three-way competition to be the 49ers’ No. 2 quarterback behind starter Alex Smith. Coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday that Kaepernick has put some space between himself and Scott Tolzien and Josh Johnson.