The Chicago Bears have made one final roster move in preparation for their divisional-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on January 18.
According to the team’s transaction wire, the Bears elevated tight end Nikola Kalinic from their practice squad to their game-day roster for Sunday night’s game against the Rams at Soldier Field, marking the fourth time he has been called up this season.
Kalinic played exclusively on special teams during his previous elevation opportunities, logging three tackles and 44 total snaps in the third phase over three total appearances. The Bears could potentially ask him to play even more against the Rams, though, if they do not have veteran linebacker and core special-teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin available.
The Bears had signed Reeves-Maybin — a 2023 Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro for his special teams play — to the 53-man roster earlier in the week after he unexpectedly had to play defensive snaps for them in the wild-card round after T.J. Edwards‘ injury. He is questionable, however, with a back injury that slowed him this week in practice.
The Bears also made a few more roster moves throughout the week before hosting the Rams for their second playoff game. On January 13, they activated veteran left tackle Braxton Jones from injured reserve and re-added him to the active roster for the first time since October 25. They also placed Edwards and rookie Ozzy Trapilo on IR.
The Bears (12-6) will kick off against the Rams (13-5) at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Could Braxton Jones Play Meaningful Snaps vs. Rams?
With Trapilo landing on injured reserve, the Bears will need a new plan at left tackle for their second-round playoff game against the Rams. Will Jones be a part of it, though?
The Bears have limited options for replacing Trapilo, but second-year Theo Benedet seems the most likely to get the starting nod in the divisional round. While the Bears benched him for Trapilo during the regular season, he played 522 snaps at left tackle beforehand and allowed two sacks and just one hit on 333 total pass-blocking snaps.
According to The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, the Bears are also “strongly considering” moving Pro Bowl left guard Joe Thuney to left tackle to cover for Trapilo. In that scenario, CHGO’s Adam Jahns has reported that Jordan McFadden would be the team’s top choice to start at left guard in Thuney’s place against the Rams.
While Jones could also receive consideration for the role, the Bears seem unlikely to prioritize him as a legitimate option. Not only did they bench him earlier in the season due to his poor performance, but he is also still getting his legs back underneath him after missing 10 weeks of practice while on injured reserve with his knee injury.
At the very least, though, Jones will provide some emergency depth at the position.
Bears Waiting to Determine Rome Odunze’s Status
For all the injuries that troubled them during the regular season, the Bears have a reasonably light injury report heading into the divisional round of the 2025 playoffs.
The Bears cleared veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka from the league’s concussion protocol after not having any of the three against the Packers in the opening round. None of them is carrying an injury designation into Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Star wide receiver Rome Odunze, however, is once again listed as questionable on the final injury report as he continues to work through the stress fracture in his foot that prompted Chicago to shut him down for the last five games of the regular season. He played through his questionable designation last week against the Packers and caught two of his four targets for 44 yards, including a clutch fourth-down conversion.
The only other player with an injury designation besides Odunze and Reeves-Maybin is cornerback Nick McCloud, who will not play against the Rams due to a groin injury.
Bears Announce Last-Minute Roster News Before Rams Playoff Game