The Chicago Bears finished the preseason strong with a 24-15 victory in Nashville over the Tennessee Titans. Lots of players put in strong efforts, doing everything possible to convince the team to give them a roster spot. Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles took their notes and have now begun the process. With the deadline 24 hours away, the Bears don’t have time to waste. Cuts have begun surfacing. Practice squad additions will follow shortly after.
This tracker will help you monitor every update. Prepare for things to move quickly. Some notable names are already on their way out. More will soon follow.
Chicago Bears cuts:
CB Terell Smith
This is an unfortunate one. Smith was a quality depth cornerback for the Bears since being drafted in the 5th round. That ACL injury last year was a brutal setback, both on a personal and professional level. It allowed others to establish themselves. Though he finished the preseason strong, it was too little too late.
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WR Scotty Miller
The veteran had a good camp and good preseason by all accounts. This was more of a case where another overshadowed Miller. Kaden Davis was outstanding from the moment he arrived at Halas Hall, playing so well that the Chicago Bears couldn’t justify keeping him off the roster.
WR J.P. Richardson
With the team so deep at wide receiver, Richardson’s odds were considerably worse than Miller’s and others. He never managed to make any notable impression during his time in practice or the preseason.
OT Jedrick Wills
The Bears took a gamble on the former top 10 pick after he finally returned from nearly two years off recovering from a knee injury. While the team liked the progress he showed, it didn’t translate enough in the preseason. There were too many mistakes. Ozzy Trapilo’s early return all but sealed his fate.
OL Cade Barnett
Chicago paid a lot of money by undrafted free agent standards to lure Barnett to Halas Hall. Unfortunately, the rookie failed to show any significant improvement since arriving. He struggled a lot in pass protection during the preseason, which likely did him in.
LB Jon Rhattigan
Rhattigan’s calling card was always special teams. That was how he might crack the roster. He failed to make any notable plays in that phase. When that became the case, his fate was sealed.
OT Kiran Amegadjie
The former 3rd round pick had the personal backing of Poles. That is probably what kept the tackle alive for three offseasons. He couldn’t make the leap necessary to protect himself this time. Injuries and erratic play finally did him in this year. He continues a long line of disappointing picks in that round for the Bears.
CB William Wright
He never stood out in training camp, serving more as a deep reserve that filled out the roster. His name was never mentioned, which tells you everything.
OT Mason Murphy
The big tackle had a pretty good preseason, statistically speaking. He certainly has the size and length. However, it was evident that he lacked the power and agility required at this level.
S Anthony Johnson
He may have had a chance to stick on the roster, but undrafted rookie Skyler Thomas clearly outplayed him. Johnson didn’t make a notable enough impact on special teams to change the equation.
S Marlen Sewell
Like Wright, the safety was more of a camp body than anything. He filled a roster spot and offered some help for others, but never stood out.
RB Salvon Ahmed
This is one of the bigger surprises. It felt like Ahmed had a really good preseason and was versatile enough to justify overtaking Roschon Johnson for that coveted third running back spot. What happened? This probably came down to Johnson just having greater value on special teams and in pass-blocking.
DL Marcus Davenport
The former 1st round pick looked like he might be some much-needed help at edge rusher for the Bears. Unfortunately, he never got up to speed fast enough to practice. He’s had a long history of health problems and the team didn’t seem interested in waiting to see if he comes around.
TE Stephen Carlson
A longtime veteran who’s hung around for years. Alas, he didn’t have a prayer of making the roster after the arrival of Sam Roush behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.
OL Wesley French
Like many others, he never managed to stand out in camp. When your name is never mentioned in practice or games, that is a sure sign you’re out.
DL James Lynch
This one is a minor surprise. The Chicago Bears traded Gervon Dexter. That felt like a good sign that Lynch would make it after a strong preseason. In the end, the team seemed to like undrafted rookie Jayden Loving a little bit more.
LB Jack Sanborn
It appears Dennis Allen didn’t see enough from Sanborn this past month to justify keeping him. Though experienced, the linebacker’s lack of speed likely worked against him from the start.
WR Kaden Davis
By far the biggest surprise on the list. Davis was excellent throughout camp and the preseason. Him not playing in the finale felt like a sure sign he was safe. The only reason this move likely happened was that the Bears have moves planned elsewhere and need the roster spot. He is a surefire practice squad option.
WR Maurice Alexander
The same goes for Alexander. While he may not have exploded like Davis, he still had a really good summer. Bears QBs like him a lot and he made the most of his opportunities.
LB Antonio Grier
A camp body who got lost in the shuffle at what was a deep position for the Bears.
OL Kyle Hergel
Had a decent preseason, but that wasn’t nearly enough to overtake any of the notable interior blockers the Bears had.
TE Qadir Ismail
The same situation as Carlson. He failed to stand out in any meaningful way while also sitting on a stacked depth chart.
WR Omari Kelly
An interesting undrafted free agent signing in May. Kelly never made any significant plays in camp to build momentum.
OL Jaren Kump
Though a tough and intelligent center, the undrafted rookie from Utah was never supplanting Logan Jones for that primary backup spot.
DL Jeremiah Martin
Never a good sign when you fail to get noticed at a position that has serious depth questions.
LB Wayne Matthews III
With no shot of playing meaningful snaps on defense, his only hope was special teams. It didn’t materialize.
QB Miller Moss
He had some nice throws in the preseason. Alas, the Bears are loaded at QB with Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Case Keenum.
DB Deantre Prince
You know the story. Camp body with minimal fanfare and not enough talent to climb the depth chart.
DB Beanie Bishop (injury designation)
He brought considerable experience as a slot cornerback, which the Bears have needed. His two interceptions against Cleveland helped his case even further. Sadly, an injury killed his progress. Perhaps they may circle around to him again once he’s recovered.
LB Ruben Hyppolite II (injury designation)
It felt like Hyppolite was turning a corner after his strong showing in the preseason opener. Then, as with last year, an injury ruined everything. A shoulder issue popped up shortly after that game, and the linebacker never recovered—a sad end for the former 4th round pick.
DB Dontae Manning (injury designation)
Manning was the ultimate feast-famine player for the Bears. He’d have some spectacular plays in the preseason and follow them with some ugly breakdowns. He probably wouldn’t have made the roster even if healthy, but he had a shot at the practice squad.
RB Brittain Brown (IR)
Coach Johnson seems to really like the steadiness Brown brings to the position. Having him on the practice squad will be beneficial.
LB Tony Fields (IR)
Fields has special teams value; the Chicago Bears probably didn’t want to give up. That is why he got the Injured Reserve designation instead of a settlement.
DB Jaylon Jones (IR)
This is the same situation. Jones is a really good special teamer, which is how he’s hung around on the roster for the past few years. Getting him back down the line should bolster that unit.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud III (IR)
McCloud arrived late to the party as injuries at wide receiver mounted, and he made some nice plays. It wasn’t enough to unseat anybody, but it should get him onto the practice squad.
Practice squad additions:
- OG Caden Barnett
- WR Scotty Miller
- OT Christian Jones
- RB Zavier Scott
- RB Salvon Ahmed
- EDGE Marcus Davenport
- LB Jack Sanborn
- WR Kaden Davis
- OL Kyle Hergel
- LB Wayne Matthews
- DB Deantre Prince
- WR J.P Richardson
- DB Marlen Sewell
- TE Stephen Carlson
As per usual, most of the names on this list are ones who were with the Bears in training camp. However, some new ones are sprinkled in. Jones was a 5th round pick of the Cardinals in 2024. He’s a big, strong tackle with strong run-blocking properties. Scott was a big running back with solid versatility as a runner, receiver, and special teams option. Davenport landing there makes it clear the Bears plan to let him round into shape and elevate him from the practice squad down the line.
