BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- A capacity crowd of 12,000-plus fans groaned almost in unison when Chicago Bears star wide receiver Brandon Marshall leapt to make a catch and landed awkwardly Saturday night during the team's first padded practice of training camp.

Marshall stayed on the ground for a couple minutes as members of the club's medical staff rushed over to assist the Pro Bowl wideout, but Marshall eventually walked off the field under his own power and was cleared to resume practicing.

"Brandon Marshall is a scholarship player," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said. "I think we’d all agree with that. He made some big plays. A little scare there early on, but of course there was nothing to it. But you always fear it whenever you see one of your best players going down like that."

Marshall returned to the field with a vengeance, connecting with quarterback Jay Cutler on several deep balls at the expense of veteran cornerback Charles Tillman.

"We know what type of player he is," Smith said of Marshall. "He was going against a good football player in Charles Tillman most of the night. When you’re a good receiver and you have a good quarterback that can get the ball there, it’s just a one-on-one game. Brandon’s going to win most of those battles."

Starting free safety Chris Conte was escorted to the trainer's tent late in practice for undisclosed reasons but also eventually returned to action. However, rookie receiver Joe Anderson left the field early with what the club called an "illness."