Bears Release Ben Braunecker

The first casualty of the Bears’ 2020 training camp roster came before football activities even started. Late Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Bears announced the release of tight end Ben Braunecker.

A move like this should come as no surprise, as the Bears have more tight ends then they can handle at the moment. The presumable starters at the position are Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet, so there will be no shortage of moves like this when it comes to the tight end room before week one kicks off.

Braunecker saw a majority of his snaps on special teams, finishing his time in Chicago with just 13 receptions, 149 yards, and one touchdown. Those are less than impressive numbers, but Braunecker’s impact was primarily on special teams, and that ability could help him land a job with another team.

The remaining reserve tight ends on the roster include Darion Clark, Demetrius Harris, Eric Saubert, Adam Shaheen, Jesper Horsted, and J.P. Holtz. Braunecker’s release has to send a message to the rest of the tight end room that the Bears are not messing around when it comes to that position this season. The Bears will likely keep two of the aforementioned players on the active roster and potentially one on the practice squad. For Ben Braunecker, he has played his last snap as a Chicago Bear.