Unsurprisingly, WR Knox to start season on PUP

The Chicago Bears placed rookie free safety Brandon Hardin on injured reserve and wide receiver Johnny Knox on the physically unable to perform list, plus released nine players Sunday.

Hardin, the club’s 2012 third-round draft choice out of Oregon State, suffered a neck injury in the Bears’ second preseason game against the Washington Redskins.

Knox still is attempting to recover from a gruesome spine injury that occurred last Dec. 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. Knox is eligible to come off the PUP list after Week 6.

The club also terminated the contract of vested veteran defensive tackle John McCargo.

The Bears waived the following players: linebacker K.C. Asiodu, quarterback Matt Blanchard, safety Trevor Coston, receivers Terriun Crump and Chris Summers, and defensive end Derek Walker. They also waived/injured linebacker Adrien Cole and guard Nick Pieschel.