Brandon Marshall might be quarterback Jay Cutler's favorite target, but the Chicago Bears have other wide receivers, and their deployment will be a set rotation this season.
"We're going to have a four- or five-man rotation," wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said.
The first depth chart released by the team has Marshall and Devin Hester as first-team receivers, with Earl Bennett backing up Marshall and rookie Alshon Jeffery backing up Hester.
Eric Weems is listed a backup behind Jeffery and Hester, and Dane Sanzenbacher is a backup behind Marshall and Bennett. Any number of combinations can come from that group -- depending on down and distance -- if the Bears go to four- or five-receiver sets. They may even split running back Matt Forte out wide with Michael Bush in the backfield as they have done at times in camp.
Regardless, Jeffery won't be forgotten just because he's a rookie and still trying to improve at getting in and out of his breaks.
"Devin Hester is going to be doing a lot of work on the returns and it's good to have a guy like Alshon Jeffery that you can put in there," Drake said. "Not only is it good for Alshon Jeffery, it's good for Devin Hester."
Earlier in camp, Cutler had called it like Christmas with all the new "toys" he had at wide receiver. Cutler is no less impressed with his receivers even after a day when the offense struggled in the red zone. He commended GM Phil Emery for upgrading the talent level from what it was under former GM Jerry Angelo.
"Even the guys that didn't get drafted can play football," Cutler said.
One example is Brittan Golden, a receiver from West Texas A&M who has been making catches all over the field in camp.
He’s showing up, he’s making plays, and that’s what you want to do as a young player, have someone notice you -- and he’s been noticed," Drake said.
Monday, both Terriun Crump from Western Illinois and Chris Summers from Liberty made big catches over the middle to open eyes.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.
