Julius Peppers’ quiet performance Sunday might have been due to the flu he fought all week, coach Marc Trestman said Monday at Halas Hall.
Trestman said the Bears defensive end, who had neither a sack nor a quarterback hurry in the 31-30 win against the Minnesota Vikings, “felt worse Sunday than he did in the previous few days.” Peppers was sent home early Thursday and was limited in Friday’s practice with a fever and flu-like symptoms.
“He wouldn’t say it, but in his defense, I don’t know that he had the energy to play as hard as he could possibly play,” Trestman said. “I thought he was involved, he ran some plays down. But overall in his defense, I think he wasn’t getting (healthier) at the time. …
“He didn’t look well to me (Monday) morning when I saw him in the meeting as well.”
