(Sports Network) - A pair of offenses will be under the microscope at Soldier Field on Saturday night, when the Chicago Bears welcome the Arizona Cardinals to town in the third preseason tune-up for each team.
The Bears, under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, have played to mixed reviews in warm-up losses to the Chargers (25-10) and Raiders (32-17).
Starting quarterback Jay Cutler has played generally well in limited action, completing 9-of-17 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown, but has also been sacked six times in two games. Cutler is expected to play the first half on Saturday, though who succeeds him in the lineup is unclear given the shoulder injury that has plagued Caleb Hanie. The team recently signed veteran Todd Collins, but head coach Lovie Smith said on Thursday that Collins was unlikely to play against the Cardinals.
Rookie QB Dan LeFevour, who is on the roster bubble after a pair of dismal preseason performances, could get his final shot to impress on Saturday.
The running back depth chart is more defined, with Matt Forte' helping his cause with an 89-yard touchdown run against the Raiders last week.
On the injury front for Chicago, wideout Earl Bennett (hamstring) and linebackers Brian Urlacher (calf) and Nick Roach (knee) are unlikely to play on Saturday.
The Cardinals will also be trying to take a step forward offensively, with much-criticized quarterback Matt Leinart seeking a consistent performance versus the Bears.
The former first-round pick is 6-of-7 passing for just 49 yards in the preseason to date, and needs to use the larger sample of playing time to his advantage on Saturday. Leinart will play as a backup, however, as Derek Anderson will be starting the contest for Arizona.
Anderson has not played well in the preseason either, completing 13-of-22 passes for 88 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in a win over the Texans (19-16) and loss to the Titans (24-10).
Prominent on the injury list for Arizona is wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (knee), who will not play against the Bears but could be back for the team's final preseason contest.
The Cardinals lead the all-time preseason series with the Bears, 28-12, including a 23-16 road victory in the last such matchup, prior to the 2006 season.
The teams last met in meaningful play last Nov. 8, a 41-21 Cardinals rout at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Cardinals franchise resided in Chicago from 1920 to 1959, before relocating to St. Louis.