The Chicago Bears cuts took a bit longer to filter out than most teams but it was only a matter of time. Things finally got rolling late Friday evening as five players were revealed to have been released. They included offensive linemen Marquez Tucker and Joe Lowery, cornerback Doyin Jibowu, wide receiver Tanner Gentry and outside linebacker Mathieu Betts. None of those names should be considered a surprise.
Betts though could be called a considerable disappointment. The kid of Laval College in Canada had 33 sacks and helped win two national championships in school. He was expected to be the #1 pick in the CFL draft but chose to pursue an NFL job instead. The Bears were able to sign him despite them not being the first choice. He showed tons of promise on tape. Yet when he got down to Bourbonnais, it became apparent something was off.
Betts showed none of the same quickness he had in college and looked lost at times on the field. His failure to make any notable plays in the preseason sealed his fate. Gentry was once an underdog darling of the team two years ago but the wide receiver depth chart became so stacked that his odds of making the roster were never serious.
More cuts are expected to come soon.
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Chicago Bears cuts tracker ahead of deadline:
Duck had a beautiful interception in the preseason and has ball skills that are hard to ignore. The problem is he’s short and not overly fast. He could be a practice squad option the Bears may try to find a role for in the future.
Bunting was a revelation during training camp and the preseason. He didn’t do much in college but displayed a 6’7 frame with good athleticism and strong hands. He has loads of upside. That said his blocking needs a ton of work and he’ll probably get it on the practice squad.
This means Jesper Horsted, Ellis Richardson, and Dax Raymond are cut as well. Horsted was excellent down the stretch of the preseason and is a definite practice squad option. The Bears could choose to stash Raymond, who they like, on Injured Reserve due to a concussion.
Hall ran into a tough situation. Not only a loaded depth chart at wide receiver, but he also struggled on special teams and his two best shots at big plays in the preseason were undone by bad throws.
Banfield is an interesting prospect. He flashed considerably in the preseason, particularly as an interior pass rusher. He could be somebody who sticks around on the practice squad.
Caldwell wasn’t on the team long but he made a positive impression while he was. He displayed strong vision, patience, and understated lower body strength as a runner. He also can catch the ball. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up on the practice squad.
The former 3rd round pick finally ran out of lives. Bullard already been a disappointment prior to this season but the growing depth at defensive line only made his odds of survival that much lower. After a rough preseason, he no longer had any argument against keeping his job.
Denmark was the last pick of the draft for Chicago. He certainly looked like a fascinating project with immense size and good speed for a cornerback. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stay healthy in training camp and was bypassed by several others.
Ives was one of the top receivers in the preseason for the Bears. He’s 6’5 with solid route running skill and good hands. He needs to work more on his game though and should be a practice squad addition.
Nall ran into an unfortunate situation. Though he had another solid preseason and training camp, his lack of special teams prowess made it difficult for the Bears to justify keeping him over Kerrith Whyte, who is a solid kick returner.
Fitts was a disappointment throughout the summer. He didn’t do much in training camp and was almost invisible as a pass rusher during the preseason. He may be retained on the practice squad, but even that feels like a stretch at this point.
