NEWSLETTER
It didn’t take long for the Chicago Bears to fill the practice squad vacancy they opened up on Tuesday:
#Bears roster update:
We have signed DB John Franklin III to the practice squad.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) September 26, 2018
The team has announced the signing of John Franklin III to its practice squad less than 24 hours after parting ways with fellow defensive back Jonathon Mincy.
Franklin is a diamond-in-the-rough type, who could grow into a role as a reserve defensive back, but has a ton of work to do to get there. Probably best known for his role on “Last Chance U” – a Netflix show that provided an inside look at the East Mississippi Community College football team – Franklin is a speed burner who lined up as a defensive back and return specialist during training camp and the preseason. That’s a different look from a player who lined up at quarterback and wide receiver during stints at Florida State, Auburn, and Florida Atlantic University.
But still … it’s easy to fall for a guy who posted an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.19 seconds at an offseason workout:
Franklin is the only defensive back one of two defensive backs (hello, Michael Joseph!) on the Bears’ practice squad, and his presence could come in handy if the hamstring injuries of cornerbacks Marcus Cooper Sr. and Prince Amukamara don’t heal as quickly as the team would like. With that in mind, we’ll be on the look-out for updates as soon as possibly today.
