Between the quick turnaround and a short-handed secondary, the Chicago Bears are moving some pieces around their roster ahead of their Thursday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears announced the signings of defensive back Doran Grant and wide receiver Tre McBride to the team’s practice squad on Tuesday. To make room for the newcomers, the team released offensive tackle D.J. Tialavea, who was signed to the practice squad last week after offensive lineman Dieugot Joseph was poached by the Baltimore Ravens.
Grant was a fourth-round pick (121st overall) in 2015 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was placed on the practice squad after not making the team’s season-opening 53-man roster. He appeared in three games in 2015 after being called up from the practice squad, but was let go as part of the team’s final cuts before the 2016 season. Since the start of last year, Grant has spent time on the practice squads of the Giants, Bills, and Jaguars. He also played 52 games during his four-year stint at Ohio State, including 13 games as a true freshman. Fun fact: Grant also played his high school ball at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, which is the same high school LeBron James attended. Small world.
Grant one of three players who was invited for a tryout with the team on Monday at Halas Hall, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. As for McBride, the Bears waived him to make room for linebacker John Timu on the active roster because of Nick Kwiatkoski’s pectoral injury.
The Bears could use some secondary help with Quintin Demps sidelined for the foreseeable future with a broken arm. Adrian Amos figures to get the bulk of the snaps in replacing Demps, but the team could also see safety Deon Bush return to the lineup on Thursday. Bush has been nursing a hamstring injury in recent weeks.