Cairo Santos’ return to Halas Hall made fellow kicker Michael Badgley expendable. So while we wish Badgley the best on his future endeavors, his departure left an opening on the Chicago Bears practice squad.
A vacancy that was filled by defensive tackle Jalyn Holmes, who signed with the team’s practice squad on Tuesday.
And with that, the Bears’ practice squad is full.
Holmes, 26, was a fourth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. The Vikings, you might recall, are the Bears’ competition for Week 5. Is there a little gamesmanship going on here? I doubt it. Holmes hasn’t played for Minnesota since 2020. Moreover, Holmes has spent time with the Giants and Saints since leaving the Vikings after three seasons with the team. Even without the Vikings ties, Holmes is an interesting addition.
The Ohio State product was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention while with the Buckeyes. At 6-5 and 283 pounds, Holmes could find himself competing for elevation onto the active roster at some point. It’s not as if the middle of the Bears’ defense has been special. The more I think about it, Chicago could use a boost along the defensive line no matter the position. Adding someone who is still young and has extensive playing experience is never a bad thing. Especially as the roster churn continues.