The Chicago Bears could be without veteran strong safety Chris Harris for the third straight game on Sunday when they face the team he played for in between stints with the Bears – the Carolina Panthers.

Harris suffered a pulled hamstring late in the Week 1 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and it was believed to be minor. He practiced on a limited basis last week and was a full go on Wednesday. But coach Lovie Smith said he experienced soreness on Thursday when he was held out. We’ll see what happens with Harris today, but it looks like he could have suffered a setback.

“It’ll be crucial (getting Harris back),” linebacker Lance Briggs said. “He’s a guy who helps us go. He’s a general back there, and I look at him in the same respect that I looked at Mike Brown when he was here. He’s a playmaker and he’s a guy we need on the field.”

Harris said earlier in the week he would play, and the game means a lot to him. The defense, which has surrendered 57 points over the last two weeks, needs him. But hamstring injuries are the kinds of things that can linger with players for an entire season.

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune