The Chicago Bears shed themselves of 27 players the past two days. Thus, trimming their roster from 80 to 53 this week. Per league rules, they had to meet Tuesday’s 3:00 p.m. CDT deadline imposed by the NFL. In fact, this most recent wave of roster trimming is the biggest one of the three.
The initial 53-man roster likely won’t be the the same 53 heading into Week One. Furthermore, the roster situation will remain fluid, especially with so many available players on the waiver wire. These players will find new homes and help those teams at their respective positions of need. Additionally, with the rules that are in place most general managers will look to manipulate their rosters.
This is done specifically with the injured-reserve rules that are in place. The rule states that any injured player can be placed on the IR and are eligible to return at any point in the season after serving a minimum three weeks on the IR. But, it comes with a condition. The player in question has to break camp and make the initial 53-man roster before landing on the IR.
This proves to be a beneficial rule for the Bears. As it pertains to the team, on Wednesday, they can officially place Teven Jenkins on the IR. Then they can activate him at any point after Week Three if he’s healthy enough to play. Likewise, the Bears have a roster spot flexibility with Tarik Cohen, who is currently on the PUP list. If Cohen starts the season on the PUP list, he won’t count against the roster and will be out for the minimum of six weeks. Following those six weeks, the Bears will have to decide on whether Cohen will return to practice or land on the IR. If they chose to have him return to practice, the team will then have three weeks to place him on the active roster or the IR.
Monday Moves
As soon as preseason officially ended on Sunday night, the roster paring began. Now, how exactly did Ryan Pace and company get their roster down to 53?
On Monday, the Bears started the trim down by waiving five players:
As a result, after the five cuts, the Bears roster “unofficially” stood at 74.
Deadline Day Transactions
Now, on Tuesday as the 3:00 p.m. deadline approached, the Bears had approximately twenty-one more players to place on the chopping block. In fact, moves started to trickle in around mid-day. Thus, the Bears made the following transactions:
Later in the day, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Tribune revealed the full list of cuts. The following players were cut that were not mentioned earlier in the day.
One thing worth noting is some of these players the Bears parted ways with can return on the practice squad if they clear waivers. Both fifth- and sixth-round picks Dazz Newsome and Thomas Graham Jr. were cut, but they will both likely be kept around on the practice squad by Chicago. Just because the deadline has come and gone, doesn’t mean the roster moves are finished.
Writer/contributor for On Tap Sports Net and Bears on Tap. Lifelong and a die-hard fan of the Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks. Nothing but respect the White Sox though. Enjoying life and having a good time. Interests also include eating, gaming, sometimes reading and tons of tomfoolery. Good sense of humor (although sometimes dry). Occasionally witty. Follow me on Twitter
