NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears were already short on receivers with Cameron Meredith out for the season with an ACL injury, so cutting one of training camp’s most productive receivers has come as a bit of a surprise.
Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reports undrafted free agent Tanner Gentry will be waived, but hope that this parting of ways won’t be permanent. Jahns adds the Bears want Gentry to return to the team’s practice squad, but will need to clear waivers first. This could be a challenge with how Gentry performed in spot duty during the preseason while working with rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Gentry caught four passes for 77 yards, and hauled in a touchdown from Trubisky this summer. He provided highlight-reel caliber catches during training camp, and his summer ascent made him an overnight sensation of sorts, but he also turned heads on game day, and even started getting some time as a gunner on the punt team.
It appeared as if Gentry had a clear path to a spot on the 53-man roster, but things have obviously changed.
Over at The Athletic, Kevin Fishbain tweets the Bears look to be angling to add two receivers to the practice squad. Further, it appears as if the team will break camp with just five receivers. With Gentry out of the picture (for now), the Bears’ receiver situation features Kevin White, Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, Josh Bellamy, and Deonte Thompson. Titus Davis, Alton Howard, and Daniel Braverman are viewed as practice squad candidates.
If the Bears do stick with five receivers on the season-opening 53-man roster, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports it would be the first time a Ryan Pace-assembled club didn’t start with six since arriving in Chicago. A move like this could open up some different possibilities for roster construction, including starting the year with four tight ends.
We have updated our roster cuts tracker to reflect recent changes. This now includes five undrafted free agents the team brought into camp this summer.
