Bears Sign Cornerback Marcus Williams and Send Bryce Callahan (Broken Foot) to IR
Bryce Callahan’s tremendous season is over:
#Bears roster moves:
We have signed DB Marcus Williams (North Dakota State) to the active 53-man roster and have placed DB Bryce Callahan on IR.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 12, 2018
Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy announced cornerback Bryce Callahan was sent to injured reserve because of a broken left foot. Callahan suffered the season-ending injury in the second quarter of the team’s Week 14 win against the Los Angeles Rams and will require surgery. Bummer.
The injury ends a standout season for Callahan, who was Pro Football Focus’ 11th highest-graded cornerback and a break-out performer in a talented Bears secondary. Callahan came away with two interceptions, two sacks, five quarterback hits, and six passes defended. The do-it-all defensive back played on more than 77 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and provided lock-down defense on slot receivers, while also contributing as a pass-rusher and run defender when he was called upon to deliver a timely blitz. His presence will be missed in the secondary.
Placing Callahan on IR makes room for the Bears to bring in depth help at the position. Chicago signed free agent cornerback Marcus Williams to the active roster. Williams, 27, has 51 games (15 starts) of NFL experience in five seasons with the Texans, Jets, and Buccaneers. He has 10 career interceptions, six of which came in a stand-out 2015 season with the Jets when he played 13 games. Browsing through the data, it’s noteworthy that Williams was able to collect six interceptions while playing just 26.9 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Then again, Williams has just three interceptions in 30 games since 2015 and none during his two-game stint with Tampa Bay earlier this season.
The timing of this news isn’t for the Bears, who are gearing up for a late-season push into the postseason with the possibility of a playoff berth being clinched as early as Sunday with a win against the Packers. It’s also rough for Callahan, who was having a stellar season in a contract year. Callahan will be a free agent at season’s end and an injury could impact his market. Tough break all around.
