By dismissing thirteen players, releasing nine vested veterans, and placing offensive lineman Larry Borom, defensive lineman Jacob Martin, and receiver Dante Pettis on injured reserve—with Borom and Martin expected to return—the Bears were able to meet the NFL’s statutory 53-man roster cap on Tuesday.
The players listed below, who have at least four NFL seasons under their belts, were released and are now free agents available to sign with any team:
The Bears will be able to assemble a 16-man practice squad on Wednesday, six of whom will have unlimited NFL experience. Players who have been waived by other NFL teams may also be claimed by them. Based on their 2023 records, the Bears rank ninth among NFL clubs in the waiver order.
Many of the players removed from the Bears roster on Tuesday may be re-signed to the practice squad because NFL teams usually fill their practice squads with players they waive during final cuts.
The Bears maintained four running backs (D’Andre Swift, Travis Homer, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson) and two quarterbacks (Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent).
They retained ten offensive linemen (Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, Kiran Amegadjie, Coleman Shelton, Doug Kramer Jr., Teven Jenkins, Nate Davis, Bill Murray, Ryan Bates, and Matt Pryor) and three tight ends (Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and Marcedes Lewis).
DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr., and DeAndre Carter were the six receivers whom the Bears retained.
Montez Sweat, Darrell Taylor, DeMarcus Walker, Daniel Hardy, Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson, Gervon Dexter Sr., Andrew Billings, Chris Williams, and Zacch Pickens are the ten defensive lineman who secured roster slots.
Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Jack Sanborn, Amen Ogbongbemiga, and Noah Sewell were the linebackers that made the 53-man roster.
Blackwell, Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, Jaylon Jones, Terell Smith, Tyrique Stevenson, Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker, Elijah Hicks, and Jonathan Owens were the ten defensive backs that the Bears kept.
Punter Tory Taylor, long snapper Patrick Scales, and kicker Cairo Santos are their three specialties.
Furthermore, since Poles arrived, 48 of the 53 players have been added. Herbert, Kmet, Jenkins, Jaylon Johnson, and Scales are the only ones who don’t apply.
