Getty Ex-Lions QB Jake Rudock
The Chicago Bears plan to work out four players and host another this week, per NFL insider Albert Breer. The Bears will try out two quarterbacks: former Vikings and Broncos quarterback Kyle Sloter, who they had previously worked out in August, and former Lions backup Jake Rudock. They’ll also work out ex-Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Tyler Clark and former Washington wide receiver Jester Weah.
The Bears will also host defensive tackle Anthony Rush, who has spent time on both the Eagles and Seahawks, among others, would provide some defensive depth after John Jenkins was injured in Chicago’s Week 8 loss to the Saints. Due to the league’s current COVID-19 rules, it will likely be several days before these tryouts occur.
Today’s tryout/visit list. Bears and Lions bring QBs in following the Mitch Trubisky and Matthew Stafford situations.
With the Bears revealing that backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder that will likely keep him out several weeks, it’s no surprise to see them looking at potential practice squad quarterbacks. The team will likely bring Tyler Bray up from the practice squad to back up Nick Foles, so it’s possible Sloter or Rudock will fill Bray’s spot.
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Kyle Sloter & Jake Rudock: Stats & History
Sloter signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2017 before being waived prior to the regular season. He caught on in Minnesota after that, getting signed to the practice squad before being moved up to the active roster in September.
He didn’t play, but he became a bit of a preseason phenom after posting a 146.9 passer rating during the 2019 preseason, going 23 of 27 for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He also had an excellent preseason with the Broncos, going 31-43 for 413 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 125.4. He was added to the Detroit Lions practice squad late in 2019, but has yet to throw a pass in a regular season game.
Rudock has a bit more experience than Sloter, at least during the regular season, but it’s nothing to write home about. The Lions took him in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he spent his rookie year as the team’s third-stringer. He served as Matthew Stafford’s backup in 2017, where he appeared in three games, going 3-5 for 24 yards and an interception. He spent 2018 on Detroit’s practice squad, and was signed by the Dolphins in 2019. He was on Miami’s practice squad last season, but they chose to move on from him this year.
One interesting note, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune: The Bears tried to sign Rudock off the Lions’ practice squad in 2016, but he chose to stay in Detroit at the time.
Bears Also Plan to Work Out 2 Defenders, 1 WR…
Chicago also will bring in defensive tackle Anthony Rush, an undrafted free agent who has spent time on the Eagles, Raiders and Seahawks practice squads. He actually played in his first NFL game Week 2 with Seattle, but was waived last week.
They also plan to look at defensive tackle Tyler Clark, who was an undrafted free agent out of Georgia this year, and former Washington wide receiver Jester Weah, who signed with the Texans as an UDFA in 2018. He spent the 2018 season on Washington’s practice squad before being released last season. He caught on with the Washington Football Team last season, spending the bulk of the season on the practice squad before eventually getting moved up to the active roster late in the season. He didn’t play, and was released by the team in September.
Of the two defenders, Rush is easily the most experienced. He has played in 13 games, netting 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.
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