Getty Former Bear Jonathan Bullard. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
And so it begins. The Chicago Bears have begun the process of narrowing down their roster. After releasing standout Mizzou wide receiver Emanuel Hall and kicker Elliott Fry earlier in the preseason, the Bears have released a few more players, and will continue to do so until the roster is finalized. All cuts must be made by Saturday, August 31 by 4 PM ET.
The Bears remained quiet all day on Friday before a few roster cuts began seeping out early in the evening, the first of which were minor.
The First Cuts Weren’t the Deepest
Offensive tackle Joe Lowery and offensive lineman Marquez Tucker were the first Bears released, followed quickly by cornerback Doyin Jibowu.
Jibowu was followed by outside linebacker and Canadian football star Matt Betts:
The Bears have cut OLB Matt Betts, per league source.
After Betts, wide receiver and fan favorite Tanner Gentry was waived:
The #Bears have waived WR Tanner Gentry.
Gentry was a member of the Bears practice squad in both 2017 and 2018, and he has appeared in four total games throughout his career with the Bears.
More Preseason Favorites Have Been Waived
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 16: Clifton Duck #38 of the Chicago Bears intercepts the ball away from Reggie Jr. White #13 of the New York Giants in the second half during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 16, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Duck was released by the Bears Friday. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
The next Bears player to be waived was preseason standout Clifton Duck out of Appalachian State University:
The Bears waived CB Clifton Duck, per source.
Duck had an excellent preseason, and is a likely candidate to make the team’s practice squad.
Tight end Ian Bunting, another preseason standout who had a solid training camp, was cut next in a move signaling that the Bears are going to keep four tight ends instead of five:
TE Ian Bunting, a Hinsdale Central alum, has been cut by the #Bears, sources said, after a strong camp.
Wide receiver and special teams star Marvin Hall was the next to be waived, according to Ian Rapoport:
The #Bears are waiving speedy WR Marvin Hall, source said. Plenty more of these tomorrow…
According to Patrick Finley, Hall may have been surprised to be cut, as he didn’t play in the Bears final preseason game against Tennessee:
Hall, who spent 2017 and 2018 with Atlanta, had a good enough preseason that he could get picked up by another team. After Hall, linebacker Jameer Thurman was let go by the Bears, followed by rookie defensive lineman Jalen Dalton:
The Bears have waived rookie DL Jalen Dalton, a source said.
The Bears also cut outside linebacker Chuck Harris, running back Josh Caldwell, and defensive tackle Daryle Banfield.
The roster cuts continued Saturday, with the somewhat surprising cut of defensive end Jonathan Bullard, according to Ian Rapoport:
The #Bears are releasing DE
Jonathan Bullard, source said. A former third-round pick in the D-line rotation.
Bullard’s cut was followed by the release of John Franklin III:
#Bears are expected to place CB John Franklin III on waivers.
The Bears also waived defensive lineman Jonathan Harris and wide receiver Jordan Williams Lambert:
The #Bears will waive DL Jonathan Harris.
Bears rookie cornerback Stephen Denmark was next to be waived, followed by wide receiver Thomas Ives:
The Bears have waived seventh-round CB Stephen Denmark, per source. He missed the entire preseason with an ankle injury. Could still be an option for the practice squad.
The Bears also waived running back Ryan Nall, per Brad Biggs:
#Bears will place RB Ryan Nall on waivers
Nall was a fan favorite, and is a likely candidate for the practice squad.
The Bears also waived last year’s sixth round pick Kylie Fitts, who is another practice squad candidate:
Next to be cut were third-string quarterback Tyler Bray, and preseason standout tight end Jesper Horsted:
Bears are cutting QB Tyler Bray and TE Jesper Horsted, a person with knowledge of the situation says. We’ll see if those two end up on the practice squad.
Offensive Jordan McCray announced he had been cut via Twitter:
Thank you @ChicagoBears for the opportunity! Looking forward to the next one
The team’s most shocking cut came when they waived Alex Bars, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame who had performed extremely well in the preseason:
Final Tally of Bears Cuts
GettyChicago Bears Wide Receiver Tanner Gentry. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Players released by the Bears include: Joe Lowery, Marquez Tucker, Doyin Jibowu, Matt Betts, Tanner Gentry, Clifton Duck, Ian Bunting, Jameer Thurman, Marvin Hall, Jalen Dalton, Chuck Harris, Daryle Banfield, Josh Caldwell, Jonathan Bullard, John Franklin III, Jonathan Harris, Jordan Williams-Lambert, Stephen Denmark, Thomas Ives, Ryan Nall, Kylie Fitts, Tyler Bray, Jesper Horsted, Jordan McCray, Alex Bars, Tommy Doles, Michael Joseph, Rashard Fant, Taquan Mizzell, Sam Mustipher, James Vaughters, Jonathan Mincy, Ellis Richardson, John Wirtel, Joe Walker, and Jordan Williams-Lambert.
The Bears also lost offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings to a season-ending quad injury and placed him on injured reserve last week. Tight end Dax Raymond and guard Blake Blackmar on injured reserve.
#Bears placed TE Dax Raymond and G Blake Blackmar on injured reserve.
The release of Vaughters and Bars, especially, is shocking considering how well both performed this preseason.