Despite having just promoted quarterback-of-the-future Mitch Trubisky into the starting role for the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Vikings, the Bears don’t have a ton of options for him to target downfield.
During the offseason, you’ll recall, the Bears decided not to retain Alshon Jeffery, and since then, they’ve lost top receivers Kevin White (collarbone) and Cameron Meredith (torn ACL) to injury.
Well, perhaps not unrelated to the relative dearth of options at wide receiver, the Bears are making some roster moves ahead of next Monday night:
#Bears will be signing WR Tre McBride to their active roster from their practice squad.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) October 2, 2017
The Bears originally signed McBride right after the Titans included him among their 53-man roster cuts, though they quickly waived him when they needed room on the roster to call up LB John Timu (to replace an injured Nick Kwiatkoski).
Chicago then signed McBride to the practice squad a few days later and that’s where he’s been until today. He’ll join a wide receivers room – alongside Kendall Wright, Deonte Thompson, Markus Wheaton, and Josh Bellamy – full of guys competing for the love and attention of the new starting quarterback.
McBride, 24, played his college ball at William & Mary, and was a 7th round pick by the Titans in 2015, and made a couple catches (including a touchdown) that year. He spent most of the 2016 season on the Titans practice squad and didn’t log any stats in the regular season.
Interesting that McBride gets the call today, and not camp standout Tanner Gentry, who remains on the practice squad.
Taking his spot on the practice squad is linebacker Jason Thompson, who spent the preseason with the New England Patriots. Thompson was signed as an undrafted free agent from Utah, where he played safety. Before enrolling at Utah, Thompson played quarterback for Wyoming.
Roster Update: We have signed WR Tre McBride from the practice squad and LB Jason Thompson to the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/54b9UgHkHc
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 2, 2017