If the Chicago Bears could, they’d keep every player on their roster from OTAs to the end of Week 18. But they can’t. By 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the team will need to trim their roster from the 91 players they carried throughout the summer to 53.
‘It’s a big emotional swing, because the way I feel, anytime you’re telling someone no and they worked as hard as they worked, that’s a big deal,” said defensive coordinator Alan Williams. “So right now I do care about people. This is a people business.”
The Bears began making their cuts in earnest on Sunday night when they released backup quarterback P.J. Walker and 2021 first-round draft pick Alex Leatherwood. Per several reports, the team made more moves on Monday, and those reports will continue to trickle out up to Tuesday’s deadline.
We’ll track all those moves here, so bookmark this page in your browser– or keep it open and refresh it on your phone– if you want to follow along.
P.J. WALKER – QUARTERBACK
The Bears gave Walker a two-year contract and over $2 million in guaranteed money this offseason to act as Justin Fields’ primary backup, but he never got in a groove over the summer program. Walker was underwhelming in most practices and preseason games– except for the preseason finale when he was playing against the Bills’ third and fourth stringers. The move was an early indication that the Bears will value performance on the field over money they owe guys when picking who will stay and who will go. We’ll see if that trend continues.
ALEX LEATHERWOOD – LEFT GUARD
The Bears took a flier on Leatherwood when they claimed him off waivers last season– meaning they also inherited his more lucrative rookie contract, rather than trying to wait and sign him to a cheaper deal. Things got off to a bad start when Leatherwood contracted mononucleosis and missed around two months before he really got started. Leatherwood never got settled once he returned and bounced around several positions on the line.
GABE HOUY – OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
The Bears waived Houy with an injury designation on Sunday night. The team brought him in as an undrafted free agent this year, and he was a longshot to make the roster.
DAURICE FOUNTAIN – WIDE RECEIVER
The Bears added Reece Fountain to their practice squad last October and he was a good training camp wide receiver. If this was last season he may have had a better shot of making the team, but with the additions of D.J. Moore, Chase Claypool and Tyler Scott, he had an uphill battle to make the team.
KELLEN DIESCH – OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Diesch was a UDFA for the Dolphins in 2022, and the Bears added him to their practice squad when the Dolphins cut him at the end of August. He never was able to beat out Larry Borom for meaningful backup tackle reps this summer.
BOBBY HASKINS -OFFENSIVE TACKLE
The Bears signed Haskins as a UDFA this offseason. Like Diesch and Houy he was a longshot to make the team.
LOGAN STENBERG – OFFENSIVE GUARD
The Bears claimed Stenberg off waivers at the beginning of August, and the presumption was that he would push for backup IOL snaps. He never made it ahead of Ja’Tyre Carter or Alex Leatherwood, though.
BRAVVION ROY – DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The Bears claimed Roy off waivers this August, but he never made much of a splash at camp. He’s played in 45 career games with 76 tackles, one sack and one interception.
MICHAEL OJEMUDIA – CORNERBACK
The Bears claimed OJ off waivers in Dec. 2022 and he made it onto the field for one special teams snap in Week 18. He had an up and down training camp with some great plays and some not-so-great plays.
NSIMBA WEBSTER – WIDE RECEIVER
The Bears claimed Webster off waivers after cut down day in 2021. He played four games that year as a punt returner, but didn’t make much of an impact. He played two games last season and caught two balls for 14 yards.
ANDREW BROWN – DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The Bears signed Brown off of the Cardinals practice squad last November to boost their anemic defensive line. The team loved what he brought as a nose tackle, even though he only notched one tackle in five games. Draft picks Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, plus free agent signing Andrew Billings, made Brown more expendable this year.
D’ANTHONY JONES – DEFENSIVE END
The Bears signed Jones to a UDFA deal this offseason after he notched 14 sacks in his last two seasons at Houston. He didn’t make a big enough splash at camp to stick around.
DAVION TAYLOR – LINEBACKER
The Bears signed Taylor midway through August after they let other linebackers go. He never ascended the depth chart in his quick stint with the team.
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