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Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Activated off NFI list Sun, Jul 21, 2024, 1:51 PM The Bears activated Everett (undisclosed) off the active/non-football injury list Sunday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: Everett landed on the NFI list Friday due to an undisclosed issue, but the matter was apparently minor, as he's coming off the list two days later. With his activation, the veteran will be eligible to practice with the team. Everett is slated to work as the Bears' backup at tight end behind Cole Kmet this season.
Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Lands on NFI list Fri, Jul 19, 2024, 1:23 PM The Bears placed Everett (undisclosed) on the active/non-football injury list Friday, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports. Analysis: Everett suffered a knee issue Week 18 last season with the Chargers, but placement on the NFI list is an indication that his current injury is unrelated. He's eligible to be activated t at any point this summer. Everett figures to work behind Cole Kmet for Chicago this season, and with a trio of notable wideouts atop the depth chart in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, it's difficult to imagine much receiving work will be left over for the No. 2 tight end. After exceeding the 400-yard mark for the past five seasons, it wouldn't be surprising if Everett's production as a pass catcher declines during the 2024 season.
DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter Signs with Chicago Tue, Jun 18, 2024, 10:57 AM The Bears signed Carter to a one-year contract Tuesday. Analysis: Carter suited up for all 17 regular-season games with the Raiders in 2023 and racked up 494 return yards in that span. He also contributed four catches for 39 yards and three carries for 17 yards. The 31-year-old veteran now stands to compete for a similar role including the return game with Chicago.
Marcedes Lewis Marcedes Lewis Intends to re-sign with Bears Sun, Jun 9, 2024, 3:14 PM Lewis is meeting with Chicago on Monday with the intention of re-signing for the 2024 season, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports. Analysis: Lewis appears set for a second campaign in Chicago after playing in all 17 regular-season contests last season. He's regarded as one of the league's top blocking tight ends and sprinkled in some contributions on offense last year, catching four of five targets for 29 yards and a score. His Week 16 touchdown was notable in that it made him the oldest tight end in NFL history to record a receiving TD. Lewis turned 40 in May and will be embarking upon his 19th professional campaign. He's unlikely to make a significant impact on offense or in fantasy, but he'll boost the Bears offense with his blocking while serving as a positive locker room presence.
Keenan Allen Keenan Allen Hoping to play long beyond 2024 Wed, Jun 5, 2024, 9:37 AM Allen said Monday that he's "going to play as long as I can" and is willing to sign an extension with Chicago, Patrick Finley of The Chicago-Sun Times reports. Analysis: The Bears reportedly haven't offered anything since trading for Allen in March, which isn't exactly a surprise given that they drafted Rome Odunze six weeks later and may want to sign DJ Moore to an extension this offseason. Regardless of what happens with the contracts, first overall pick Caleb Williams will have one of the best WR trios in the league, with Moore and Allen both coming off 2023 seasons with career highs for yards per game and fantasy points per game. Allen is likely looking at a big volume dip in his age-32 season after averaging a league-high 11.5 targets in his 13 games for the Chargers last year, but he doesn't seem to be thinking about retirement just yet, instead perhaps looking for another productive season and a big fourth contract. He's expected to be the Bears' slot receiver in three-wide formations and their Z receiver in two-wide looks.
Rome Odunze Rome Odunze Returns to practice Thu, May 30, 2024, 11:28 AM Odunze (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Analysis: Odunze was featured in a video from practice catching a contested pass from rookie QB Caleb Williams. With the hamstring tightness behind him, the No. 9 overall pick will continue to build chemistry with Williams while working as the No. 3 receiver for now behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
Cole Kmet Cole Kmet Connecting with new QB Thu, May 23, 2024, 3:00 PM Kmet (forearm) is building chemistry with new rookie quarterback Caleb Williams at OTAs, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports. Analysis: Kmet suffered a broken right forearm during Chicago's season-ending loss to the Packers in Week 18, but he looks fully healthy at OTAs. The starting tight end could have some extra opportunities to establish a rapport with Williams, given that Rome Odunze is managing a hamstring issue, while Keenan Allen has stayed away from the voluntary activities. Still, the likeliest scenario in this passing game could be that Kmet takes a back seat to all of DJ Moore, Allen and Odunze, and even with his pedigree as the No. 1 overall pick, it seems a long shot that Williams can support four solid fantasy options as a rookie. Kmet will be a sleeper option at the tight end position in 2024 fantasy drafts.
Rome Odunze Rome Odunze Almost over hamstring issue Thu, May 23, 2024, 2:02 PM Odunze (hamstring) is expected to resume practicing next week, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Analysis: Odunze participated in Chicago's first practice during the team's rookie minicamp earlier this month, but subsequently encountered hamstring tightness, as Dan Weiderer of the Chicago Tribune reports. The Bears seem to have been taking a cautious approach to the recovery of the rookie No. 9 overall pick, but it doesn't look like there's any real concern about his injury. Odunze will have plenty more time this offseason to build chemistry with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and to find his footing in what figures to be a starting role alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
Freddie Swain Freddie Swain Latches on in Chicago Mon, May 13, 2024, 1:15 PM The Bears signed Swain to a contract Monday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: Swain spent time on the Dolphins' practice squad last season, but he hasn't played snaps in a game since 2022, when he suited up for three contests with Denver and one for Miami. The 2020 sixth-round pick will have his work cut out to compete for a depth role in Chicago's crowded receiver room.
Tommy Sweeney Tommy Sweeney Signing deal with Chicago Sun, May 12, 2024, 9:15 AM Sweeney agreed to a contract with the Bears on Sunday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: Sweeney began his career with Buffalo before linking up with the Giants last season. He suffered a "medical event" on the practice field in late August and never got into a game with New York, as he was eventually cut in late November. He'll now get a chance to compete for a roster spot among a tight end group that is led by veterans Cole Kmet (forearm) and Gerald Everett (knee).
Caleb Williams Caleb Williams Officially named starting QB Fri, May 10, 2024, 11:31 AM Coach Matt Eberflus named Williams' the Bears' starting quarterback at rookie minicamp Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Analysis: Williams, the No. 1 overall pick of April's draft, was always a lock to start Week 1 over Tyson Bagent or Brett Rypien, but the team has wasted no time making Williams' position official, with Friday being the first day of on-field workouts for rookies. That allows Williams to immediately begin familiarizing himself with Chicago's offensive scheme without having to worry about splitting any reps. He can start establishing chemistry with fellow top-10 selection Rome Odunze during rookie camp, while veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen -- who both worked out with Williams and Odunze during the pre-draft process -- stand to arrive at team facilities for the start of OTAs.
DJ Moore DJ Moore Returning to remade offense Fri, May 3, 2024, 8:59 AM Moore worked out in April with Bears QB Caleb Williams and fellow Bears WRs Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports. Analysis: The workouts took place shortly before the draft, at which point Williams was all but locked in as the No. 1 overall pick for Chicago (and Odunze considered a strong candidate to join him at No. 9). The Bears ended up with both, completing their offseason makeover on offense after trading for Allen and signing RB D'Andre Swift and TE Gerald Everett. The crowded pass-catching corps means Moore is unlikely to match his career-high 28.8 percent target share from 2023, though there likely will be more overall targets, as the Bears figure to call pass plays at a higher rate and will no longer have sack/scramble-happy Justin Fields under center.
Keenan Allen Keenan Allen Part of loaded offense in Chicago Thu, May 2, 2024, 8:32 PM Allen, DJ Moore and Rome Odunze all worked out with new Bears QB Caleb Williams in April, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports. Analysis: Williams and Odunze weren't on the team at the time, though in Williams' everyone knew he'd be going to Chicago with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 Draft. The Bears then took Odunze eight picks later, completing a fearsome WR trio with Allen and Moore. It's a situation that will make it nearly impossible for Allen to match his target volume from his years in San Diego and Los Angeles, even if Odunze needs some time to adjust to the pro game. Allen celebrated his 32nd birthday during the draft and is entering the final year of his contract, with GM Ryan Poles having said in March that he expected the veteran WR to sign an extension at some points. It's unclear if the Odunze selection changes the expectation for Alllen to sign a multi-year deal, as the Bears have enough cap flexibility to keep all three WRs for the next few seasons if that's what they choose to prioritize.
Khalil Herbert Khalil Herbert Could be moved Thu, May 2, 2024, 10:30 AM With D'Andre Swift signed this offseason and Roschon Johnson entering his second season, Herbert is viewed as potential trade bait, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports. Analysis: Herbert is entering the final year of his rookie deal that is set to pay him a non-guaranteed $1.055 million salary, and the coaching staff is high on Johnson headed into his second season after he was taken in the fourth round of the NFL Draft last year. Swift inked a three-year, $24 million deal in March. After leading the NFL averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2022, Herbert battled ankle and back issues last year, missing five games on injured reserve in the middle of the season. Travis Homer is also on the roster as a special teams ace. Herbert doesn't play special teams.
Tyson Bagent Tyson Bagent Tracking to be Chicago's QB2 Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 4:58 PM Following the selection of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Bagent is viewed as the favorite to open the season as the Bears' primary backup quarterback, USA Today's Vincent Parise reports. Analysis: With Justin Fields traded to the Steelers earlier in the offseason, it leaves Bagent and Brett Rypien behind Williams. There's a chance Chicago adds an experienced veteran to what is currently a pretty young quarterback room, but Bagent showed well enough as a rookie last year to enter 2024 with a chance to claim backup duties. Bagent went 2-2 in four games as a starter, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions and adding 109 rushing yards and two additional scores on 23 attempts.
Keenan Allen Keenan Allen Could sign extension this offseason Mon, Mar 25, 2024, 8:46 AM GM Ryan Poles said Monday that he thinks Allen will sign an extension with the Bears "down the road" after the team handles other contracts, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: Poles seems to be suggesting that the Bears first want to work out extensions for players that have been with the team longer, though they already took care of two big ones in DE Montez Sweat (November) and CB Jaylon Johnson (March). Allen's new partner at wide receiver might be next in line, as DJ Moore's contract has two more seasons and $32.1 million but nothing guaranteed. Allen has one year and $23.1 million remaining, with the large sum explaining why the Chargers traded him for a mere fourth-round pick on the heels of a 2023 campaign in which he had career highs of 95.6 receiving yards and 21.5 PPR points per game (both numbers ranking Top 4 among all WRs). Allen missed the final four games with a heel injury and will turn 32 in April, but there's been no report of offseason surgery or any complications, so he should be a huge asset in the short term for presumed No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
Dante Pettis Dante Pettis Back with Chicago Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 2:54 PM The Bears signed Pettis (undisclosed) to a one-year deal Friday, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports. Analysis: Pettis was dealing with an undisclosed injury back in September of 2023, but it now seems as if he's moved past the issue. The 2018 second-round pick has spent time with the 49ers, Giants and Bears throughout his five-year NFL career, and he's agreed to terms to return to Chicago. Pettis' most recent in-game action came back in 2022 with the Bears, appearing in 17 games and catching 19 of his 41 targets for 245 yards and three touchdowns. The 28-year-old wideout also returned 18 punts for 163 yards in 2022, and he'll likely be competing to make Chicago's 53-man roster as a return man this offseason.
Keenan Allen Keenan Allen Dealt to Bears Thu, Mar 14, 2024, 9:27 PM Allen (heel) was traded from the Chargers to the Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick Thursday, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports. Analysis: Allen has been a key figure in the Chargers' offense for the last 11 seasons, but salary cap problems and a new coaching staff and front office have caused the team to move on. Despite entering his age-32 season, Allen has shown few signs of decline, as he racked up 150 targets across only 13 games in 2023. He turned that into 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns while also tallying a career-best 19 receptions of at least 20 yards. Allen will face some questions on his new team, however, as DJ Moore is the established top pass catcher in the offense, meaning Allen could lose out on some of his prolific target volume. While the Bears are expected to draft Caleb Williams with the top overall pick, it's also still unclear who will be under center in Week 1.
Brett Rypien Brett Rypien Set to join Bears Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 3:25 PM Rypien agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Bears on Wednesday, pending a physical, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports. Analysis: Rypien has made four starts and appeared in 10 games over the past four seasons, split between the Broncos and Rams. He has a 4:9 career TD:INT and will likely compete with Tyson Bagent for the backup role, be it behind Justin Fields or a rookie quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Joining Chicago Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 1:53 PM Everett and the Bears are in agreement on a contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: One of the better receiving options among a weak free-agent class of tight ends, Everett is linking up with a Bears team that already has a proven starter in Cole Kmet, who is coming off a 719-yard, six-TD season. Everett could take some of the snaps in obvious passing situations given that he's probably a bit quicker and more agile, though Kmet is taller, heavier, stronger and has a better track record of receiving production. The Bears may have a lot of two-TE formations in mind, especially with their WR depth behind No. 1 DJ Moore looking shaky at the moment. Still, it's not a great fantasy situation for Everett, who turns 30 in June after five straight seasons in the range of 408 to 555 receiving yards (for three different teams).