Wednesday’s Chicago Bears Transactions

On Wednesday some news came across the NFL’s waiver wire about the Chicago Bears, and most of it was unexpected.

First the regular transactions...

With the Bears losing Damion Square off their practice squad on Tuesday — his deal with the Las Vegas Raiders was official on Wednesday — the Bears signed offensive lineman Alex Taylor to fill out their 16-man practice squad.

Taylor was a UDFA of the Cleveland Browns a year ago, and the 6’8”, 301 pounder will compete at tackle on Chicago’s practice squad. He’s redshirted at Appalachian State, but then transferred to South Carolina State University where he gave up on football to play basketball. After two years playing hoops he went back to football, where he started at tackle and made a couple All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams his final two years.

The Bears also did not elect to protect anyone on their practice squad again on Wednesday.

And now the transactions I was surprised to see...

Tight end Jake Butt was waived from the Reserve/Retired list. Butt was only a Bear for a brief time before deciding to retire from the NFL, and with him waived I would assume he’s free to change his mind and become a free agent if he were so inclined.

And the name that was a blast from the past, linebacker Jerrell Freeman was waived as a termination of a vested veteran from the Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner-At Least One Year list. Technically Freeman retired back in 2018, but he was hit with a third positive drug test shortly after retiring which resulted in a two year suspension. I know the math doesn’t add up, but it could have something to do with the time remaining on his contract or with the injuries he sustained while playing.

Also, while we’re here, check out the first injury report of the week from the Bears.