Hester back on field 'feeling healthy'

Devin Hester was feeling a lot better Monday than he did Saturday night.

"It felt great," said Hester, who practiced Monday, two days after suffering a shoulder stinger in the first quarter of the Bears' preseason game against San Francisco. "It didn't give me any problem. I slept good (Sunday night). There was no pain.

"If I didn't know I got injured, I couldn't tell. I'm feeling healthy."

Hester was injured attempting to throw a block against the 49ers and at first feared he was hurt more seriously.

"It just kind of shut down my whole body," he said. "I really couldn't move. After awhile it started dying down and it just kind of went away.

"It was just a sharp pain that rushed through my shoulder, and I really didn't know what to expect. I kind of laid there for a minute. When it was feeling good, I got up."

Looking ahead: The short turnaround time between last Saturday's third preseason game and the final tuneup Thursday against Cleveland is just fine with Bears coach Lovie Smith.

"I'm anxious about getting one step closer to playing San Diego (in the regular-season opener)," Smith said. "The quicker we play this football game the quicker we can just concentrate on San Diego."

It's OK with the players, too, since most starters will only be making cameo appearances against the Browns.

"We haven't been playing full games, so our bodies aren't worn down," said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. "I'm ready to get the season started, so the faster we get done with the preseason, (the better)."

Numbers game: The Bears reached today's required roster limit of 75 by waiving nine players Monday, including wide receiver Brandon Rideau (ankle), who was injured.

Also waived were four-year veteran linebacker Leon Joe, wide receivers Timon Marshall and Clinton Solomon, defensive tackle Justin Frick, guard Tyler McMeans, kicker Nick Novak, safety Jay Staggs and punter Joel Stelly.

Joe was seventh on the Bears with 11 special-teams tackles last season.

"We're fairly deep at most positions; linebacker's one of them," coach Lovie Smith said. "Leon Joe was a good football player for us. We'll miss him. Hopefully he can get on with someone else."

Taking it easy: Cornerback Charles Tillman (bruised knee), safety Kevin Payne, defensive lineman Israel Idonije (shoulder) and wide receiver Rashied Davis (calf) did not practice Monday.