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For most of October, the Bears’ Austin Booker was a scout-team defensive end.
The NFL allows players coming off injured reserve to practice for up to three weeks before being put on the active roster. The Bears , comfortable at the time with their depth at defensive end, made Booker wait all 21 days. During that time, he worked off the rust of a preseason knee injury and occasionally spun left tackle Theo Benedet around for a sack.
Ask Booker which opposing defender he pretended to be, and he straightens up.
‘‘I feel like I was playing like Austin Booker,’’ he said.