NEWSLETTER
Losing as much as the Jaguars did meant they were sitting atop the waiver claim process when business opened up at 11 a.m. CT. And because the Bears finished where they did in the standings, they were 20th in the waiver order. So while Jacksonville took a top speedy receiver while sitting in its position, at least I can share that Chicago didn’t come back empty-handed.
Help is on the way:
The #Bears have claimed WR Nsimba Webster off of waivers.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) September 1, 2021
The Bears were awarded receiver Nsimba Webster as a waiver claim. Webster, 25, spent training camp and the preseason with the 49ers. Prior to that, he spent some time with the Rams after signing with Los Angeles after going undrafted in 2019. The Niners reportedly were hoping to bring Webster back into the fold, but the Bears threw a wrench in those plans with their waiver claim.
Webster has 21 games of playing experience in his two years with the Rams, including a full 16-game slate in 2020. The Eastern Washington product handled special teams and return duties during his time in Los Angeles. Last season, Webster excelled as a punt returner, averaging 7.4 yards per return on 25 attempts. Webster also averaged 21.7 yards per kick return on 16 tries. Additionally, Webster was in on 59 percent of the Rams’ special teams snaps. Meanwhile, Webster has just 8 (!) total offensive snaps under his belt — all of which came last season. In other words, Chicago’s football team has brought in someone it hopes can be a core special teams contributor.
Here’s a look at the new guy in action:
https://twitter.com/OurSf49ers_/status/1427298019406319619
https://twitter.com/Scoop_Johnson/status/1389723430178541571
https://twitter.com/Graham_SFN/status/1424415765109698562
With Cordarrelle Patterson leaving in free agency, Tarik Cohen on IR and missing the seasons first six weeks, and draft pick Dazz Newsome not making the cut out of camp, the Bears’ special teams needs were notable. Filling the shoes of an All-Pro like Patterson and an exciting playmaker like Cohen won’t be easy. But Webster will get a fair crack at doing it to start the season.
For a complete look at successful waiver claims, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero has the deets:
Waiver claims! pic.twitter.com/9xC3GErD8K
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 1, 2021
