Chicago Bears Continue To Revise Roster Ahead Of Week 1

Despite announcing the Chicago Bears’ roster ahead of the start of the regular season, general manager Ryan Poles is hard at work looking for improvements.

This past Tuesday was the deadline for NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears, to get down to the 53-man limit. Bears general manager Ryan Poles made some tough calls to finally come up with the roster.

Of course, Just because Poles and the Bears announced a “final” roster, that does not mean that it really is final. Poles has been busy scouring the waiver wire for players who might be able to help improve the roster. He’s been the busiest person in the league, claiming seven players off of waivers.

Poles made claims on players of a wide array of positions. These include, Alex Leatherwood (offensive line), Armon Watts (defensive tackle), Josh Blackwell (cornerback), Kingsley Jonathan (defensive end), Sterling Weatherford (linebacker), Trevon Wesco (tight end), and Ihmir Smith-Marsette (wide receiver).

As a result, some players who thought they made the roster found their happiness short-lived. Zachary Thomas, Khyiris Tonga, Caleb Johnson, and Duke Shelley all found themselves out. Thomas did find his way to the practice squad, however.

Tajae Sharpe, who made a big impression in the preseason opener, hasn’t played since due to an injury. The Bears placed him on injured reserve so he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.

New players can step in and help

All these players can be contributors in some way for the Chicago Bears. Chicago needed help at nose tackle so Jonathan is an upgrade there. Additionally, the Bears are thin at linebacker, wide receiver, and tight end. These new players can fill in and help.

In Leatherwood’s case, though, the benefit could be in the future. He was the Las Vegas Raiders’ first-round pick in 2021 and they perhaps realized that he was drafted too high. Now, however, he can come to Chicago without the pressure and just develop. If he does, and he complements the rookies on the roster, the Chicago Bears could have a nice young, athletic offensive line in the future.

Head coach Matt Eberflus spoke on picking up players on waivers.

You can get some really good players off of there. We have done that in the past. We’ve had starters, Pro Bowl players come off that claim and we’re excited about the guys we have.

Eberflus knows from experience how waiver wire pickups can help. When he was the Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator they picked up safety Kenny Moore. The Colts claimed him in 2017 after the New England Patriots cut him. He became a starter in 2018, and last season he was a Pro Bowler.

Now we cannot expect to have the same thing happen with the players the Bears picked up but if they can step in and do a good job of contributing then it helps, especially since the team is in rebuilding mode.

All the players the Bears picked up are young. They are in their early to mid-twenties of age so they can end up being long-term contributors.  They fit into what Poles looks for to rebuild the team.

Poles has already turned the team that was one of the oldest in the league last season into one of the youngest. About half of the roster is comprised of players in their rookie or second season. He is on his way to enacting his vision of what the Chicago Bears team should be to be a consistent winner again.