The Chicago Bears made their first roster move Monday in what should be a busy stretch of moves on the defensive side of the ball. NFL insider Aaron Wilson first reported that the Bears released veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport from the practice squad per his request, a player with history alongside two key members of this coaching staff. Hours later, Davenport announced his retirement from the NFL.

Davenport played for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen early in his career with the New Orleans Saints, and he also spent time with head coach Ben Johnson in Detroit. He was one of the veterans Chicago brought in to see what he still had left in the tank after injuries derailed the recent stretch of his NFL career.

And again, the most important detail is one fans are overlooking: Davenport was released from the practice squad, not the 53-man roster.

Marcus Davenport got his shot against the Jets

The decision came one day after the Bears elevated Davenport for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. He played 12 snaps in that game recording one tackle. Per NFL rules, Davenport reverted back to the practice squad on Monday following the standard elevation.

Johnson noted in his postgame press conference that Davenport had earned playing time through his work in practice, and the staff wanted to see what he could do in a game. That’s why Davenport got the elevation, and it’s also why he got the nod over James Lynch. Lynch, another veteran defensive lineman who is on the 53-man roster, had been playing solid football the first three games but was a healthy inactive Sunday.

Davenport hanging up the cleats after one game in Chicago tough to see. Davenport has had his career derailed by injuries, and this felt like a real opportunity for him to get back in the swing of things in a familiar scheme with familiar coaches. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.

No, this has nothing to do with Khalil Mack

This move is making headlines on social media for the wrong reasons, so it’s worth clarifying what’s actually happening.

Yes, Davenport wore No. 52 in Chicago, which is the same number Khalil Mack wore during his time with the team. Rumors have circulated about Mack potentially being on the trade block with the Los Angeles Chargers, and fans have been quick to connect the dots on a reunion with the Bears.

But, that’s not what this move was. It’s again worth noting that Davenport was on the practice squad, so his release doesn’t open a spot on the 53-man roster for any trade. Fans hoping this is the first sign of a Mack trade are just reading too much into this.

The real domino effect of this roster move

That being said, this move does have a ripple effect for the rest of the roster. Chicago has players getting healthy on defense and needs to start creating space for them to be activated on the 53-man roster.

After Davenport’s release, the Bears now have one open spot on the practice squad and one open spot on the 53-man roster. That 53-man roster spot was created on Saturday when Chicago placed left tackle Braxton Jones on injured reserve.

Over the next few weeks, the Bears need to bring the following players back onto the 53-man roster from the PUP list: DL Shemar Turner, LB Noah Sewell, and CB Kyler Gordon.

All three are working their way back toward returning and are in the 21-day practice window to return from the PUP list. Once they’re healthy, they’re eligible to be activated back to the 53-man roster, and the Bears will need to have spots ready for each of them.

My best hunch is that Chicago releases one of the two defensive linemen who were healthy scratches Sunday. That would be either Jamree Kromah, who has been a healthy scratch all season, or Lynch. Whichever player the Bears cut would then likely return on the open practice squad spot Davenport left behind.

That would then open up two spots on the 53-man roster available for Gordon, Turner, or Sewell. All three players are eligible to play for the first time Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, which is why the timing of this initial move makes sense.

All this to say, more roster moves are expected in the coming days and weeks ahead. Going into Week 5, the next step is seeing which of the three defensive players the Bears decide to bring back before kickoff against Green Bay, if any.