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LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jared Allen hated the view from the couch. He hopes to be in on the action this time. Allen is confident he will be ready to play at Carolina this week for the Chicago Bears after missing a game because of pneumonia. The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end is feeling much better after sitting out Sundays loss to the Green Bay Packers. He returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis and hopes to be ready when the Bears visit the Panthers this weekend. Were taking it day by day, and right now, Im on track, Allen said. There was more positive news on the illness and injury front for the Bears. Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall (ankle) went through a full practice, as did safety Chris Conte (shoulder). Center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson, sidelined since the opener by ankle injuries, returned on a limited basis as did defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion). The Bears appear to be healing after getting hit hard by injuries in the first four games. They also lost cornerback Charles Tillman for the remainder of the season after he tore his right triceps for the second straight in their victory at San Francisco in Week 2. For Allen, sitting out against Green Bay was brutal. That brought his string of 113 starts to an end. It wasnt a fun game to watch, he said. It breaks your heart not being out there with the guys. Just glad to be back and ready to rock and roll. Weve got 12 games to get after it, and thats what were focused on. Allen felt ill going into the Monday night game at the New York Jets two weeks ago. He was diagnosed with pneumonia two days later and watched from the couch as Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to their 700th win last week. Allen was not hospitalized, but he said his weight dropped from 254 to 239 because of the illness. It was at 241 Wednesday morning, but hes been working out, regaining his strength. He figures the weight will come back now that hes eating more, something he wasnt able to do much of the past week and a half. Everything feels good right now, he said. Im going to get another good lift in right now. I think its just eating and trying to rehydrate and getting all that done. Hopefully, Ill be back up by the weekend. The biggest addition to a revamped defence, Allen was limited to just one preseason appearance because of the birth of his daughter and a bruised shoulder. In three games, he has a big zero in the sacks column. Even so, he felt he was starting to find his rhythm after the games at San Francisco and New York. He thought he was close to taking down the Jets Geno Smith in the fourth quarter even though he came away empty-handed. Allens return this week would be a huge boost for the Monsters of the Midway. The Bears sure could have used him against Green Bay. Rodgers had all the time he needed in that game, and the Packers never punted. Its crucial to have that kind of leadership, continue to roll along with those guys, defensive end Willie Young said. Its good to have him back. Ratliffs return would also be a big lift to the defensive line. He still has to be cleared to play after missing the past two games. On the other side, Marshall practicing without limitations for the first time since he sprained his right ankle against Buffalo in the opener was a big positive for the Bears. He has just three receptions in the past two games. As for the offensive line, Trestman said Garza remains a starter even though Brian de la Puente has played well. The same goes for Slauson, although it was not clear if either will play this week. Both have been sidelined since the opener and Trestman called them day to day. Its good to see them out there, he said. Its good to see them in pads. They certainly want to get out there as quickly as they can and well see where they are (Thursday). 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On the eve of the 2013-14 NBA season, he can finally take a step back and allow his team to do the talking.SOCHI -- After the team photo had been snapped, after the Canadian players had taken off their game sweaters and pulled on their practice jerseys, Sidney Crosby and head coach Mike Babcock skated a few laps around the ice together and held what appeared to be a deep discussion. They looked each other in the eye. They made gestures with their hands. The two leaders were engaged. In fact, near the end of the conversation Babcock skated through a crease, while Crosby toured behind the net as a puck whizzed behind the back of the coachs head. He didnt even notice and kept on talking. “I think everybody has to adjust a little bit and was just making sure Im on the same page as far as what he expects and what he wants,” Crosby explained after Canadas second practice at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. “The offensive part and the skill that we have, I think that will come quicker then some of the adjustments we might make in the defensive zone. Defensive zone coverage was the topic of discussion between the two as they skated. Babcock and his coaching staff had shown the players a video in one of the many meetings the group has had since arriving in Sochi on Monday. Crosby wanted some clarification. “There was a little confusion there,” Babcock said. “We sorted it out. That gives me a chance tomorrow to sort it out with the group. “What weve tried to encourage is … if there is something as a player you dont feel or dont know, we encourage you to talk. The idea is to get everyone comfortable so we can play the game fast. When youre thinking you dont go fast. That was a good part of the process. Obviously, [Crosby] is a guy who is real comfortable and we want that from the captain. We want him to ask questions if there are any issues.” Crosby won a world junior title and steered the Rimouski Oceanic to a Memorial Cup final as a teenager. He was a Stanley Cup champion as a captain before his 22nd birthday and won an Olympic gold medal nine months later. Next chapter Now the 26-year-old Crosby has been asked to take over as captain for Scott Niedermayer, who had thee captaincy in Vancouver four years ago, and write the next chapter in Canadian hockey leadership that stretches from the smooth-skating defenceman to Mario Lemieux and all the way back to Phil Esposito and beyond.dddddddddddd ``I think youre much more used to things, youre a little wide-eyed that first time,” Crosby said. “The biggest thing I learned from a guy like Scotty is that he didnt really say that much, he just said the right thing at the right time. The way he carried himself and his whole demeanour that he had, his quiet confidence, it was really something that was felt throughout the whole room. ``The other thing here is that weve got a lot of guys who have played together not just the last Olympics but going back a ways, I think theres some trust there. And for the new guys coming in, you try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. Were trying to do that. Thats the strength of Canada, guys always come together pretty quick. Thats instilled in us at an early age. I like that side of things for sure. Niedermayer was 37 when he captained Canada to gold in 2010. He retired a few months later. Mario Lemieux was 36 when he captained Canada to gold in 2002. He retired before the next Olympics. Does age matter when it comes to Olympic hockey leadership? Babcock likes the fact that Crosby will be surrounded by all the returnees from the Vancouver team. “The reality for me is we have 11 guys back from the last time who had success,” he said. “We have a new opportunity and we have to come up with a new identity. Does experience help in winning? Absolutely. Does the Olympics weigh in more than the guy who has won a Stanley Cup, I dont know that? “I know I like guys who have won because theyve been through it and done it right. You dont win unless youve done it right. In the details is whats going to separate. There is a whole bunch of teams with really good players. Someone is going to become a really good team and win the tournament. Thats what were going to try to do. Were going to try to get better each and every day so we can win.” ' ' '