The Chicago Bears have cleared out two roster spots with trades that sent away Jon Bostic and Jared Allen, and on Tuesday they quickly filled them as they signed safety Chris Prosinski and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds.
The Bears also waived safety Brock Vereen, who was drafted by the team during the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Prosinski and Reynolds are former teammates, having played together with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prosinski was drafted by the team in 2011 and ended up playing in 48 games with the team. He recorded 72 tackles and defended six passes in those contests while starting nine times.
Reynolds, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars in 2013, started three games in parts of three seasons with the team, registering a recovered fumble and 28 tackles during his tenure with the team.
Prosinski will likely slot into the back-up safety role that was occupied by Vereen, playing behind Adrian Amos in the rotation. Reynolds probably won’t see much playing time as he joins a crowded group of linebackers, but with the season already looking like a lost one, the team could potentially give looks to more players as things move along.
As for Vereen, he was cut after starting out the offseason as a first string safety for the Bears. He had an awful game against Seattle on Sunday, getting burned by Jimmy Graham in coverage on a touchdown catch and getting caught out of position on Tyler Lockett’s 105-yard kick-off return touchdown. Vereen is just the latest of Phil Emery’s draft picks to get the heave-ho from G.M. Ryan Pace this season.
Vereen’s roster spot will be filled by defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff, who returns to the team following his three-game suspension.
