Bears announce several roster moves including ending one starter's season and poaching a player from a division rival
The Chicago Bears had an off day of practice on Wednesday, but that didn't stop the team from staying busy at Halas Hall.The Bears made a few roster moves on Wednesday, including placing starting return man Deandre Carter on the injured reserve.To fill the vacant spot on the 53-man roster, the Bears signed defensive tackle […]
The Chicago Bears had an off day of practice on Wednesday, but that didn't stop the team from staying busy at Halas Hall.
The Bears made a few roster moves on Wednesday, including placing starting return man Deandre Carter on the injured reserve.
To fill the vacant spot on the 53-man roster, the Bears signed defensive tackle Jonathan Ford to the active roster off the Green Bay Packers' practice squad.
Carter has been the main return man for the Bears nearly all season long but suffered a hamstring injury on his first kickoff return against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. After the play, Carter went into the locker room and was later ruled out.
Since there's only four games left in the regular season, this move likely ends Carter's 2024 season in Chicago. Carter returned 15 kickoffs for 479 yards (31.9 yards per return) and 17 punts for 158 yards (9.3 yards per return). His 31.9 yards per return on kickoff ranks 4th in the NFL among players with 10+ returns.
Replacing Carter will be a big challenge based on his level of production but also because the Bears already go rid of two return options this season in Velus Jones Jr. and Khalil Herbert. Josh Blackwell, who's returned one punt and one kickoff this season, will likely be the primary returner for the remainder of the season.
As for Ford, the former Packers' seventh-round pick will join the interior of the Bears' defensive line that features Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, Byron Cowart, and Chris Williams. Since losing Andrew Billings for the year, the Bears have been looking to use multiple players to replicate his impact on the inside.
At 6'5, 338 pounds, Ford has the size the Bears are looking for in a run stopping defensive tackle, but he hasn't had much regular season production in his career, in fact he's never even logged a regular season snap for the Packers. Ford started this season on the injured reserve for Green Bay but was immediately cut and brought to the practice squad once activated.
The final move the Bears made was adding running back Royce Freeman to the practice squad after releasing Demetric Felton on Tuesday. The Bears also have running back Darrynton Evans on the practice squad, who was elevated to the game day roster in Week 14 with Roschon Johnson out due to a concussion.
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