The Chicago Bears could still make moves as they prepare for their opening game against Green Bay, but for now they’ve set their 53 man roster for the start of the NFL season.
The Bears, who are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season, made a total of 36 roster moves to get their roster down to the mandated number, and there were some surprises in the mix.
Those surprises included the release of linebacker John Timu, who had played in parts of the last three seasons with the Bears, and Cre’von LeBlanc, who was one of the team’s better reserve cornerbacks.
Other veterans, such as Marcus Cooper Sr. and Hroniss Grasu, were retained by the team despite having questions swirl around them during training camp.
Here is the full list of players the Bears cut loose on Saturday:
Waivers –
OL, Dejon Allen
DL, Abdullah Anderson
WR, Demarcus Ayers
LS, Tanner Carew
DB, John Franklin III
WR, Tanner Gentry
DB, Doran Grant
OL, Brandon Greene
LB, Ro’Derrick Hoskins
WR, Garrett Johnson
WR, Malachi Jones
DB, Michael Joseph
DB, Cre’Von LeBlanc
DB, Jonathon Mincy
RB, Taquan Mizzell
OL, Jordan Morgan
RB, Ryan Nall
LB, Elijah Norris
DB, Nick Orr
OL, Will Pericak
TE, Colin Thompson
LB, John Timu
DL, Cavon Walker
P, Ryan Winslow
LB, Josh Woods
Local
Waived W/ Injury Settlement –
LB, Jonathan Anderson
DB, Rashard Fant
Injured Reserve –
WR, Marlon Brown
Veteran Contracts Terminated –
QB, Tyler Bray
RB, Knile Davis
LB, Kasim Edebali
WR, Bennie Fowler III
DL, John Jenkins
OL, Matt McCants
DL, Nick Williams
The NFL will release its waiver claims on Sunday afternoon, and the Bears will have to make one final roster move to activate defensive lineman Khalil Mack after he was acquired in a trade Saturday.
