ARLINGTON, Texas. -- For a brief moment it appeared that Matt Forte’s return from a sprained ankle would be cut short after just one play.

Back in the starting line-up after missing last week's game versus the St. Louis Rams due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2 at Green Bay, Forte carried the ball on the Bears' first offensive play from scrimmage and gained eight yards up the middle. But he immediately left the field at the conclusion of the play and headed straight to the trainers table while Michael Bush replaced Forte in the Bears' backfield for the remainder of the series.

The club's training staff proceeded to re-tape Forte's ankle, and after a few anxious minutes, the Pro Bowl running back returned when the Bears got the ball back after the Cowboys went three-and-out on the ensuing possession.


“It helped a lot (getting it re-taped) because I had it taped on the bottom and spatted on the top," Forte said. "But I guess I needed a little more tape on there. When I’m running the ball and getting between all those big bodies in there you get rolled up. I kind of got rolled up on the first play but thank God I picked my foot up a little more. So it didn’t keep me out like in the Packers game.

“It’s football, you get banged up a little bit. I was proud of myself just to be able to stay out there and continue to help the team win.

Forte finished the game with 13 rushing attempts for 52 yards (4.0 average per carry) and one reception for minus-three yards. Although his numbers were relatively pedestian, Forte and Bush did combine to run the ball 23 times which kept the Dallas defense honest, especially in the first half of the Bears ' 34-18 victory.

“We did run the ball effectively when we had to which opened up the passing game," Forte said.