With Zacch Pickens dealing with a groin injury that has his availability for Week 1 in question, the Bears are adding more depth to their defensive line. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, defensive lineman Sam Roberts is signing a practice squad deal with Chicago, with the Bears‘ intention to elevate him to the active roster for Week 1.
Roberts was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2022. He played seven games (started three) in his first two seasons with the Patriots. Roberts has seven tackles in that span and logged ten tackles this preseason with New England.
While Roberts’ playing time was limited in 2023, he had a 90 overall grade at Pro Football Focus for the time he was on the field. Roberts had a 79 PFF grade during the preseason with New England.
Other Bears Waiver Claims
The Bears also claimed former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure and former Detroit Lions long snapper Scott Daly.
Toure was a seventh-rounder by Green Bay in 2022 and had 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown in 22 games with the Packers. Toure returned one punt for Green Bay in his two seasons, so this isn’t a move to add some depth to the return game.
Daly will be the Bear’s Week 1 long snapper, with veteran Patrick Scales hitting the injured list. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, scales will have back surgery on Thursday to correct a disc issue. Scales was injured in the Hall of Fame Game earlier this month and has been sidelined since. The veteran long snapper has started 83 consecutive games for the Bears and hasn’t missed a game since a 2017 ACL team knocked him out for the season.
Daly is a Notre Dame alumnus and a native of Downers Grove who appeared in 42 games for the Lions over the previous three seasons.