NEWSLETTER
It didn’t take long for the Chicago Bears’ to make changes to their season-opening 53-man roster.
Less than 24 hours after settling on a 53-man roster, GM Ryan Pace has already shaken things up with three new signings off the waiver wire. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports the Bears have signed three players from waivers, taking advantage of having the No. 3 selection on the waiver in the process.
The newest Bears are long snapper Andrew DePaola, wide receiver Tre McBride, and running back Taquan Mizzell, who were claimed from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens, respectively.
The Bears were expected to add a receiver to the group after keeping just five after the initial cut-down. McBride, a seventh-round pick (245th overall) in 2015 joins the group after a two-year stint with the Titans. The William and Mary product had two catches for 28 yards against the Bears in preseason Week 3, and has only two catches in seven career games.
Mizzell was a pleasant surprise at Ravens camp, rushing for a team-leading 126 yards but averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. However, the undrafted rookie free agent from Virginia did some of his best work catching passes out of the backfield with 12 receptions for 90 yards, and a touchdown. You can’t ever have enough pass catching ability from the running back position, especially if you’re a team lacking at receiver like the Bears.
DePaola’s addition likely spells the end of Jeff Overbaugh’s short-lived stint with the Bears, who signed him after Patrick Scales suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Titans during the team’s third preseason game.
The Bears haven’t announced any corresponding moves, but will have to clear some space in order to add three new players to their roster.
