In most cases, you should be fine. If they were severely root bound, then growth might be a problem though.

Kevin

I loosen the rootball by pouring a few quarts of water into the hole after the transplant has been placed in it, and then shoving soil into the hole (this works best in medium-textured or loamy soils). I don't like handling the rootball directly with my hands because this always results in some root injury.

Roots seem to like to be injured. Promotes root growth. ;)

I too have always been cautious not to injure peripheral roots, but breaking up the ball has proven to be a net gain when transplanting.

Dennis

I think your fine. All my nursery bought plants were rootbound and I planted them like that (no disturbing roots).
So far, growing nicely and starting to bud up.

If the rootbound was severe, then it may present a problem.

Stoney

Yeah I've seen the landscape guy on This Old House take a claw to root bound plants before putting them in the ground. He wasn't all that gentle about it either.

Hope none of our pepper plants ever get this root bound but I found this video interesting. Not so worried about damaging roots anymore but still am careful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Root bound