NEWSLETTER
I figured that Chicago Bears fans would want a one-stop shop for the team’s cuts as the team goes about trimming its roster to 53 players by the 3 p.m. CT deadline on Tuesday.
The BN team will continually update this post as cuts come down.
And. Here. We. Go.
The first moves are officially official via the Bears:
- Defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr. has been waived. The University of Illinois product had a path to playing time had he performed better in the preseason, but didn’t. As a result, the Bears just traded for defensive tackle Chris Williams.
- Defensive back Doug Coleman III has been waived with an injury designation. It is worth noting that Coleman reverts back to the Bears and will go on IR if he isn’t claimed on waivers.
- Tight end Tommy Sweeney‘s contract has been terminated. I think he’ll land on the practice squad unless someone else snags him.
- A pair of IR moves clear up roster spaces as wide receiver Nsimba Webster and running back Ian Wheeler end up on the injured reserve list. I wrote about the IR guys earlier today. Yours truly is holding out hope that the Wheeler move is essentially an IR stash and we get to see him compete for an RB job in camp next summer.
- A trio of cuts reported by NFL reporter Aaron Wilson: Linebacker Javin White, defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings, and offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter. The most notable cut here is Carter, who was a Bears 2022 draft pick. This likely means that Bill Murray (no, not that one — this one) is making the initial 53-man roster. With that being said, I’d like to see the team sneak Carter onto the practice squad because I think there is another level for the Southern University product to reach. It’s just that it needs to happen on a developmental level — ideally without the pressure of trying to learn while taking up a spot on the active roster.
- More cuts from the Trib’s Brad Biggs include offensive lineman Jerome Carvin, defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour, wide receivers Peter LeBlanc and John Jackson, and defensive back Quindell Johnson.
- An announcement from the Bears adds linebacker Paul Moala to the list of players who have been placed on waivers. As of right now (3:40 p.m. CT on August 26), the Bears’ roster sits at 78 players. They’ll need to part ways with 25 more to get to 53.
- A pair of notable cuts are coming down and knocking Pro Football Hall of Fame Game standouts Brett Rypien and Collin Johnson off the roster.
- Offensive lineman Jake Curhan is on his way out, per the Trib’s Brad Biggs. Curhan and Bears OC Shane Waldron have a previous connection from a prior stop, but the team will look elsewhere to fill out its offensive line.
- Safety Adrian Colbert (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter), tight end Stephen Carlson (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero), offensive lineman Aviante Collins (Biggs), defensive tackle Byron Cowart (ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler)
- Biggsy’s Twitter is all over the cuts today: Punter Corliss Waitman hits the waiver wire, as does cornerback Leon Jones, and defensive tackle Dashaun Mallory.
- Cornerback Greg Stroman Jr. has been notified of his pending release, according to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo. For what it’s worth, Garafolo seems to think that Stroman will have interest from other teams. And because he is a vested veteran, Stroman isn’t subject to waivers and can immediately sign with another team. In other words, don’t expect Stroman to slip back onto the Bears’ practice squad without other teams kicking the tires.
- From NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero: Hard Knocks singing sensation (and UDFA QB) Austin Reed is going to waivers. Of course, this leaves Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent as the only quarterbacks on the Bears’ active roster.
More to come…
