LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) – The Chicago Bears have placed wide receiver Johnny Knox on the PUP list, placed rookie safety Brandon Hardin on the injured reserve list, and cut nine other players in their effort to get down to get to the 75-man roster limit by Monday.

Knox, who underwent spinal fusion surgery during the offseason, was already on the physically unable to perform list for the preseason. By placing him on the regular season PUP list, Knox will be ineligible to play the first six games of the regular season, but will be eligible to return after that if he is healthy.

Hardin, who was the Bears’ third round pick this year, was carted off the field with an apparent neck injury during the second preseason game against the Washington Redskins. He will miss the entire season.

The Bears have also waived linebackers K.C. Asiodu and Adrien Cole, quarterback Matt Blanchard, safety Trevor Coston, wide receivers Terriun Crump and Chris Summers, guard Nick Pieschel, and defensive end Derek Walker. They also terminated the contract of veteran defensive tackle John McCargo.

The Bears have reduced their roster to 77 players. They must get the roster down to 75 players by Monday afternoon.