Magnuson extended his injunction against the suspension of Smith, McAllister, defensive end Charles Grant and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams until he can hold a full evidentiary hearing "as soon as practicable."

Magnuson suggested that the NFL and the players try to work out the dispute themselves. Barring that, he asked both parties to provide the court with a joint proposed scheduling order on or before Dec. 22.

The players were suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL's policy on steroids and related substances Dec. 2, following a lengthy appeals process. All five players tested positive in the summer for the banned diuretic bumetanide, which they claim was an unlisted ingredient in an over-the-counter weight-loss product called StarCaps.

The NFL Players Association filed a federal lawsuit on their behalf two days later, claiming that the league and the independent administrator of the league's testing program knew that StarCaps was a tainted product but withheld the information from the players. The lawsuit also claimed that the arbitrator who ruled on the appeals, league attorney Jeffrey Pash, had a conflict of interest.

Magnuson issued his initial injunction Dec. 5 after hearing preliminary arguments from both sides. After taking time to review submissions from both parties, he issued a more expansive 20-page briefing Thursday afternoon.

"I'm happy for the guys that they get to play," Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said before the start of the Saints' Thursday night game at Chicago. "We'll see what happens ultimately when there's a full hearing. We just have to let it run its course."

Grant would be eligible to play along with Smith and McAllister, but he is out for the remainder of the season with a triceps injury.

DEUCE DOWN: McAllister was held out Thursday, reportedly because of a bulging left knee that has bothered him this season.

The combination of the short week and his time away from the team because of the death of his grandfather may also have contributed to the decision.

McAllister has 90 carries for 317 yards and four touchdowns.

The other Saints' inactives were safety Terrence Holt, defensive end Tearrius George, tackle Jammal Brown, defensive end Rob Ninkovich, wide receiver David Patten and defensive end Josh Savage. Joey Harrington was the third quarterback.

The Bears' inactives were wide receiver Devin Aromashodu, running back Garrett Wolfe, fullback Jason McKie, guard Terrence Metcalf, wide receivers Brandon Rideau and Marty Booker and defensive end Ervin Baldwin.

QUARTERBACKS COACH: Joe Tiller, who retired as Purdue coach, was in attendance at Soldier Field to watch two of his best former quarterbacks, Drew Brees of the Saints and Kyle Orton of the Bears.

The game was the first NFL game for either player Tiller had attended, and he said he only went because both of them were in the game.

"Their seasons coincide with ours," Tiller said. "Maybe in the future I will make an effort to see one of their games at home, at one of their respective home sites."

Tiller's prediction for the game?

"I'm looking for a 52-48 game," he said.

Tiller said he made few attempts to speak to Brees during the season "because I respect their time demands. But in the offseason, I talk to him occasionally. He comes back (to Purdue's West Lafayette, Ind., campus) every year."

Brees played at Purdue from 1998-2001 and until this season owned the school's records for pass attempts and completions. His attempts record was broken this year by Andy Schmitt.

INJURIES: Chicago running back Matt Fort? suffered a toe injury on the Bears' first series from scrimmage and left the game. He returned in the second quarter.

NOT HESTER: When the Bears scored on an 82-yard kickoff return to start the game, the surprise to some was that it was defensive back Danieal Manning who made the return, not Devin Hester.

Hester has had poor results in the return game this season after two years of spectacular play. The Bears have tried to convert Hester into a wide receiver to take advantage of his speed.

Entering Thursday, Hester had 31 kickoff returns, averaging just less than 22 yards, while Manning had 21 returns and averaged 28 yards. Neither had scored on a kickoff return until Thursday.

Still, Hester was the leading vote-getter for the NFC's kick returner in the first Pro Bowl results that were announced this week.

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Staff writer Mike Triplett contributed to this report.