Explore the Chicago Bears’ latest roster moves, including the impact of Terell Smith’s injury on the upcoming season.
Bears cornerback Terell Smith celebrates after an interception against the Bengals in a preseason game Aug. 17, 2024, at Soldier Field.
Photo Credit: John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune
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The Chicago Bears began their roster trimming process Saturday, placing cornerback Terell Smith on injured reserve and waiving six players as the team works toward the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.
Major Loss in Secondary
The most significant move involves Smith, a third-year cornerback who suffered a torn patellar tendon during the Bears’ second preseason game. The former fifth-round pick’s placement on IR without a designation to return means he will miss the entire 2025 season, a substantial blow to Chicago’s secondary depth.
Smith had carved out a role as a rotation cornerback for the Bears, providing valuable depth behind the team’s starters. His injury creates an immediate need for the Bears to evaluate their remaining cornerback options as they finalize their roster.
The timing of Smith’s injury is particularly unfortunate, as he was competing for increased playing time in his third NFL season. The torn patellar tendon represents a significant injury that will require extensive rehabilitation, making his placement on IR before the roster cut deadline a foregone conclusion.
Six Players Waived
Along with Smith’s IR placement, the Bears waived six players across multiple position groups:
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Linebacker Swayze Bozeman – The linebacker was competing for a roster spot in a crowded Bears linebacking corps.
Guard Chris Glaser – Glaser brought some NFL experience to Chicago but couldn’t secure a spot on the offensive line depth chart.
Tight End Thomas Gordon – With the Bears’ tight end room taking shape, Gordon was unable to earn a roster position.
Safety Mark Perry – The safety was competing for depth roles in Chicago’s secondary.
Wide Receiver Samori Toure – Toure had previous NFL experience with other organizations but couldn’t stick with the Bears’ receiving corps.
Cornerback Jeremiah Walker – Walker’s release, combined with Smith’s injury, leaves the Bears thin at cornerback heading into final roster decisions.
Experience Doesn’t Guarantee Spots
Several of the waived players, including Glaser and Toure, brought NFL experience from other organizations to Chicago. However, their previous professional experience wasn’t enough to secure roster spots with the Bears, highlighting the competitive nature of roster construction in the NFL.
Glaser’s release suggests the Bears feel confident in their offensive line depth, while Toure’s waiving indicates the team is satisfied with their current wide receiver group heading into the regular season.
More Cuts Coming
These moves represent just the beginning of Chicago’s roster trimming process. The Bears still have significant work ahead to reach the NFL’s mandatory 53-man roster limit, meaning additional players will be released in the coming days.
The team must balance talent evaluation with positional needs, salary cap considerations, and special teams contributions as they make their final roster decisions. With Smith’s injury creating an unexpected hole in the secondary, the Bears may need to prioritize cornerback depth in their remaining moves.
Looking Ahead
The loss of Smith forces the Bears to reassess their cornerback situation just weeks before the regular season begins. The team will need to evaluate whether to claim a cornerback off waivers from other teams’ cuts or promote someone from their practice squad once it’s established.
For the waived players, the next few days will be crucial as they hope to catch on with other NFL teams or potentially return to Chicago’s practice squad if they clear waivers.
As roster cut season continues across the NFL, the Bears’ moves Saturday provide the first glimpse into how the team views its depth chart heading into the 2025 season. With more cuts inevitable before Tuesday’s deadline, Bears fans will be watching closely to see which players make the final roster.
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