CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Chicago Bears announced during pregame Friday for their exhibition opener against the Carolina Panthers that receiver Brandon Marshall and defensive end Julius Peppers won't play due to a coaches' decision.
Defensive end Corey Wootton (calf) and receiver Earl Bennett (concussion) will also be held out of the contest, along with middle linebacker D.J. Williams (calf), defensive end Jamaal Anderson (knee), tight end Jonathan Scott (knee), and tight end Kyle Adams (hamstring).
Marshall missed the majority of the team's offseason program recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery, and has been given time off from workouts during training camp. Marshall experienced some soreness early on in camp in the hip, but that hasn't affected his ability to participate in workouts.
It's likely the team kept Marshall out as a precautionary measure to avoid subjecting him to re-injury.
As for Peppers, the defensive end experienced some tightness in his hamstring during a night workout last week, and the team has been cautious about rushing him back onto the field.
Peppers' hamstring issue isn't believed to be serious.
