HEADLINES

Jonathan Harris

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/20

August 12th, 2020 at 2:34pm CST by Rory Parks

Here are today’s minor moves. We will update as necessary throughout the day:

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

  • Signed: CB Prince Smith

San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/19

October 23rd, 2019 at 3:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are today’s minor transactions:

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

  • Claimed: DL Jonathan Harris (from Bears)

Detroit Lions

Houston Texas

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/19

October 22nd, 2019 at 9:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: DT Eli Ankou

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings 

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Bears Release T/TE Bradley Sowell

September 28th, 2019 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Akiem Hicks‘ availability for Week 4 is very much in doubt. The Bears promoted defensive lineman Jonathan Harris from their practice squad.

To make room on their 53-man roster for Robertson, however, the Bears released Bradley Sowell. The team had moved him from tackle to tight end this offseason. Sowell has been with the Bears since the 2017 season, having played in 34 regular-season games in that span.

Hicks left Monday night’s game with a knee injury and may now be on the wrong side of questionable to face the Vikings on Sunday. Harris was part of Chicago’s UDFA class but did not make the team out of training camp. The Bears stashed him on their practice squad.

It’s certainly possible Sowell could be brought back to the roster once Hicks is healthy. The Bears made this move last week, releasing Sowell and then re-signing him. Sowell, who played 11 snaps this season, is in his age-30 campaign. He’s been used strictly as a backup with the Bears but was a former regular starter with the Cardinals and Seahawks.

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC North

September 1st, 2019 at 4:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings are noted below.

Additionally, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads today. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

Bears Cut 34, Reach Max

August 31st, 2019 at 7:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears reached the NFL’s mandatory 53-man limit by dropping 34 players and placing two players on IR.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Waived:

RB Josh Caldwell
RB Ryan Nall
WR Tanner Gentry
WR Taquan Mizzell Sr.
WR Marvin Hall
WR Thomas Ives
WR Joe Walker
WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
TE Ellis Richardson
TE Jesper Horsted
TE Ian Bunting
OL Jordan McCray
OL Alex Bars
OL Sam Mustipher
OL Marquez Tucker
OL Joe Lowery
OL Tommy Doles
DE Jonathan Bullard
DL Jonathan Harris
DL Jalen Dalton
DL Daryle Banfield
LB Jameer Thurman
OLB Chuck Harris
OLB Matt Betts
CB Michael Joseph
CB John Franklin III
CB Clifton Duck
S Jonathon Mincy Sr.
S Doyin Jibowu
LS John Wirtel
OLB Kylie Fitts
OLB James Vaughters
CB Stephen Denmark

Released:

QB Tyler Bray

Placed on IR:

TE Dax Raymond
G Blake Blackmar

Bears Sign 22 UDFAs

May 3rd, 2019 at 9:02am CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Bears have quite a big UDFA class. Chicago announced that they have signed the following 22 undrafted free agents:

  • Alex Bars, OL (Notre Dame) ($35K of his base salary guaranteed, $5K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter)
  • Sam Mustipher, OL (Notre Dame)
  • Daryle Banfield, DL (Brown)
  • John Baron II, K (San Diego State)
  • Matt Betts, LB (Laval)
  • Blake Blackmar, OL (Baylor)
  • Ian Bunting, TE (California)
  • Jomon Dotson, DB (Nevada)
  • Clifton Duck, DB (Appalachian State)
  • Emanuel Hall, WR (Missouri)
  • Jonathan Harris, DL (Lindenwood)
  • Chuck Harris, LB (Buffalo)
  • Thomas Ives, WR (Colgate)
  • Doyin Jibowu, DB (Fort Hays State)
  • Joe Lowery, OL (Ohio)
  • Lawrence Marshall, DE (Michigan)
  • Adarius Pickett, DB (UCLA)
  • Dax Raymond, TE (Utah State) ($30K of his base salary guaranteed with a $15K signing bonus, per Wilson on Twitter)
  • Ellis Richardson, TE (Georgia Southern)
  • Josh Simmons, DB (Limestone)
  • Marquez Tucker, OL (Southern Utah)
  • John Wirtel, LS (Kansas)

The Bears opted for a lot of small school players, adding guys from places like Limestone, Colgate, Fort Hays State, Lindenwood, and Laval. The signings of Bars and Mustipher are notable because they have a connection to the coaching staff. Both players were coached by current Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand when they were at Notre Dame. The Bears hired Hiestand away from Notre Dame before last season, and he knows what he’s getting in these two players.

It’s also notable that the Bears signed a kicker, because the job will be up for grabs in training camp. Chicago is looking to replace Cody Parkey after his disastrous 2018 season, and they need someone consistent. Baron was a solid college kicker at SDSU with a big leg, as his career long was 54 yards, which is pretty impressive for a college kicker. The Bears already have former AAF kicker Elliott Fry and former Tulsa kicker Redford Jones on the roster, so they’re clearly planning on having a battle royale kicking competition this offseason.