A preseason fan favorite is making his way to the big squad.
Here is the latest Chicago Bears transaction:
#Bears roster moves:
We have signed LB James Vaughters from the practice squad to the active roster and have released TE Bradley Sowell.LB Isaiah Irving (quad, out) did not travel with the team to Philadelphia.
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) November 2, 2019
Outside linebacker James Vaughters has been promoted from the Bears’ practice squad and onto the 53-man roster. In order to bring Vaughters into the mix, the team released tight end Bradley Sowell (who has been let go several times this season in order to make roster room for a player at another position).
Vaughters opened eyes in the preseason with his pass-rushing proficiency during the Bears’ exhibition games. And while it wasn’t enough to land him a roster spot in Week 1, Vaughters has hung around on the practice squad and is now being called up to help the Bears this weekend.
With Isaiah Irving out with a quad injury, the Bears needed to find someone who could fill in as a reserve outside linebacker and special teams contributor. So they turned to the summertime fan favorite who showed enough during the preseason to stick on the practice squad. To be clear, Vaughters isn’t leap-frogging Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, or Aaron Lynch. But he might get a dozen defensive snaps as a rotational player if necessary, just as Irving did when he was healthy.