Bears Trim Roster To 53
The Bears have reduced their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Waived:
- T Dejon Allen
- DT Abdullah Anderson
- LB Jonathan Anderson (injured)
- WR Demarcus Ayers
- LS Tanner Carew
- DB Rashard Fant (injured)
- DB John Franklin
- WR Tanner Gentry
- DB Doran Grant
- G Brandon Greene
- LB Ro’Derrick Hoskins
- WR Garrett Johnson
- WR Malachi Jones
- DB Michael Joseph
- DB Cre’von LeBlanc
- DB Jonathon Mincy
- RB Taquan Mizzell
- G Jordan Morgan
- RB Ryan Nall
- DE Elijah Norris
- DB Nick Orr
- G Will Pericak
- TE Colin Thompson
- LB John Timu
- DT Cavon Walker
- P Ryan Winslow
- LB Josh Woods
Released:
- QB Tyler Bray
- RB Knile Davis
- LB Kasim Edebali
- WR Bennie Fowler
- DT John Jenkins
- T Matt McCants
- DE Nicholas Williams
Placed on injured reserve:
- WR Marlon Brown
Bears Bring In 16 UDFAs
The Bears recently announced their undrafted free agent haul. Fifteen players will attempt to stick with the team this offseason. Here’s the full rundown:
- Dejon Allen, OL (Hawaii)
- Abdullah Anderson, DL (Bucknell)
- Rashard Fant, DB (Indiana)
- Garrett Johnson, WR (Kentucky)
- Michael Joseph, CB (Dublique)
- Jeremi Hall, G (South Florida)
- Nyles Morgan, LB (Notre Dame)
- Ryan Nall, RB (Oregon State)
- Elijah Norris, LB (Shepherd)
- Nick Orr, S (TCU)
- Shaq Roland, WR (West Georgia)
- Bunmi Rotimi, DE (Old Dominion)
- Kevin Toliver II, CB (LSU)
- Andrew Trumbetti, LB (Notre Dame)
- Cavon Walker, DL (Maryland)
- Ryan Winslow, P (Pittsburgh)
This haul continues Chicago’s restocking of its linebacking corps, with this quartet vying to join Roquan Smith, fourth-rounder Joel Iyiegbuniwe and UFA addition Aaron Lynch. Interestingly, the Bears have added two members from recent Fighting Irish linebacker rooms in Morgan and Trumbetti. The former had a bigger role, making 91 tackles last season — second-most on the team. Morgan, who also made 88 stops as a junior, underwent shoulder surgery in January.
Nick Orr is Zach Orr‘s younger brother. He was a three-year starter for the Horned Frogs; the now-retired Zach also arrived in the NFL as a UDFA. Roland took three years off of football after being a highly touted South Carolina recruit in 2011. He played three years for the Gamecocks before taking the 2014, ’15 and ’16 seasons off prior to playing at West Georgia last year. Toliver was also an acclaimed high school recruit, coming into LSU as a five-star prospect.
The only player in Oregon State history with three carries for at least 75 yards, Nall was listed at 237 pounds with the Beavers but still averaged nearly seven yards per carry in 2016 (on 147 carries en route to 13 touchdowns). The Bears re-signed incumbent punter Pat O’Donnell, but only to a one-year deal, potentially opening the door for Winslow.