Hoge's Notes: Peppers Expected To (Really) Play Friday
By Adam Hoge-
HALAS HALL (CBS) For the second straight week, Bears head coach Marc Trestman expects defensive end Julius Peppers to play in the team's preseason game.
The problem is, he didn't actually play last week against the Chargers. Trestman thought Peppers (hamstring) would play in the team's second preseason game, but after warmups Peppers came to him and said "he didn't feel quite right," according to the head coach.
Trestman said Peppers has practiced all week though, which he didn't last week before the Chargers' game.
"We know he's not the person who's going to put himself in a position where he wouldn't want to be with his teammates," the head coach said. "I totally believe that. We'll see where he is in pregame, I'm encouraged based on what I saw here this week -- he practiced every day -- that he'll play."
Other Injuries
For the third straight day, the following players missed practice: Jonathan Scott (knee), D.J. Williams (calf), Earl Bennett (concussion), Henry Melton (concussion), Corvey Irvin (ankle), Cheta Ozougwu (hamstring), Patrick Mannelly (ribs), Harvey Unga (ribs) and Matt Blanchard (left hand).
Since of them practiced all week, don't expect any of them to play Friday night in Oakland.
Quotable
Martellus Bennett on whether or not Jay Cutler sees him when he's open:
"I'm 6-7, big black guy running down the field. He sees me. I wear white gloves, so he can see the white gloves when I wave them like Mickey Mouse."
Notables
- Trestman indicated some optimism for offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, who the head coach expected back this week.
"We feel good enough that we'll see him get a little more work over the next 10 days as we move forward," Trestman said.
- Bennett said he would represent Jon Bostic in the appeals process for his fine if needed.
"If he needs somebody to represent him, I will. I'll start a Bennett and Bennett law firm."
He of course was referring to himself and Earl Bennett.
- The Bears practiced indoors in the Walter Payton Center Wednesday where the artificial turf was recently replaced. On top of getting to use the new field for the first time, it got the players out of the heat and humidity. The low temperature in Oakland Friday is 59 degrees.
Adam Hoge covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.
