In a Q&A item on the Bears’ official web site, spotted by the folks at ESPN.com, head coach Lovie Smith says that running back Cedric Benson is still the team’s starting running back.

But the full context of Smith’s comments is hardly a glowing endorsement of Benson, or a declaration that he’ll be the No. 1 tailback when the regular season begins.

Asked whether there will be an open competition for the starting running back, Smith said:  “[Rookie] Matt Forte has never played a down for us here.  He’s like all other rookies, starting from the bottom and working his way.  Cedric was our starter last year, and he’s our starter right now.  For someone else to be the starter, they’re going to have to beat him out.  I’m going to put Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe in there also.  We like what Matt Forte brings.  When you draft a player that high, you’re expecting him to eventually play and have a role with your team.  But Cedric Benson has looked good in workouts out here.  I’m hoping that Cedric will get back to form and we see that guy that we know he is.”

So, basically, the door is open.  The question is whether one of the other running backs will run through it.