Bears make expected move adding veteran safety to the roster to address mounting secondary injuries at training camp
The Chicago Bears have signed former Tennessee Titans starting safety Xavier Woods to help make up for the mounting injuries in the secondary, including the loss of projected starter Coby Bryant.
The Chicago Bears stayed busy during Friday’s off day from training camp, signing veteran safety Xavier Woods to help a secondary ravaged by injuries this week. Chicago placed defensive back Dallis Flowers on injured reserve to make room for Woods, a former Dallas Cowboys sixth-round pick with 15 career interceptions and starting experience across four NFL teams. And yes, Woods did overlap for one year in Dallas with Al Harris.
The move comes after a brutal week for the Bears’ defensive backfield. Starting safety Coby Bryant suffered an injury earlier in the week that could sideline him for 8 to 10 weeks and he wasn’t the only casualty. Flowers and Gervarrius Owens, two other defensive backs, also got hurt during Thursday’s practice, leaving Chicago dangerously thin at the position. Elijah Hicks remains on the PUP list with a shin injury as well.
Along with Woods, the Bears also had the following players in for a tryout on Friday: Beanie Bishop, Isaiah Bolden, Brandon Hill, Jaylen Mahoney, Michael Ojemudia, Deantre Prince, Eli Ricks, DQ Smith, and William Wright.
Xavier Woods brings experience, but his skill set has limitations for Dennis Allen’s liking
Woods’ 15 career interceptions speak to his ball skills and instincts in coverage. However, Woods has recorded just two sacks and seven quarterback hits across his career, making him more of a traditional free safety than the hybrid safety coordinator Dennis Allen has been looking for in the secondary. Still, the Bears needed bodies, and Woods provides a proven veteran experience for the room with 121 career starts to his name.
Woods started 10 games for the Tennessee Titans last season, playing over 500 defensive snaps. Woods was cut by the Titans on Combine week as a cap casualty, made possible by their third round pick Kevin Winston Jr. But just because he got pushed out by an investment in youth doesn’t mean he can’t still play. He’s entering his age 31 season and will be a valuable veteran mind at the top of a defense.
Bears secondary depth chart still has some questions going into the preseason
With Bryant, Flowers, Owens, and Hicks all unavailable, Chicago leaned on its remaining options to get through Thursday’s practice. Anthony Johnson Jr. and Skyler Thomas rotated in at safety while Cam Lewis and Dillon Thieneman held down the two starting spots. Adding Woods gives the coaching staff another experienced safety to work with as the team prepares for its first preseason game next Saturday. It also gives the team flexibility to continue cross-training Lewis at nickel while Kyler Gordon is sidelined.
Woods may not be the ideal mold Allen envisioned for the position, but the experience he provides will be a much-needed short-term relief for a defense that simply cannot afford to enter the preseason this thin in the secondary.
