Bears bring in seven players for workouts |
Dustin Riese
· · 5 hours ago
It has been a while since the Bears have invited non-rostered players into camp for a workout. A lot of that has to do with this team getting healthier, but there's another part: the team simply hasn't needed to add any outside bodies. That all changed on Tuesday, when the Bears brought in seven players for a workout as they look to fill their open spots on the practice squad.
As has been the case more often than not this season, a large chunk of the players being brought in came on the defensive side of the ball, as that has been the biggest area of health struggle. However, this was one of those rare occasions when Chicago brought in several offensive players, as that side of the ball could also use a lift from the depth side.
With Rome Odunze missing Sunday's game with a stress fracture in his foot, the concern now becomes whether or not he will be good to this week or how long it will take him to get back to 100%. That could force the Bears' hands to add another player to their roster, and Jackson is hoping he can be the guy. At 5-9, Jackson is much smaller than most of your wide receivers nowadays, but as a sixth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans, you know there is some flash in his skill set. Jackson played 12 games for the Titans in 2024, making a mark on special teams with 28 punt returns (215 yards) and 16 kickoff returns (412 yards). Considering the Bears just lost one of their special teamers in Carl Jones Jr, any role Jackson would be taking on would fall into a Special Teams role. This could be a sneaky good pickup for a team that has been up and down on Special Teams.
Speaking of Wide receivers, Meyers is another being brought in by Chicago, as he, too, is looking to leave an impression. Known for his work in the Canadian Football League as part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Meyers went undrafted in 2023 before spending some time with the Atlanta Falcons later that summer. Meyers has been a hot commodity of late as the Minnesota Vikings recently brought him in for a workout after they released Adam Thielen from his deal. Clearly, Chicago had the same idea the Vikings did, and they, too, want to get on the field to see what he is about.
Switching over to the defense, our first player to discuss is in the trenches, as Keondre Coburn showed off his skills at Halas Hall. A sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023, Coburn has 20 games of NFL experience under his belt, with all but one coming as a member of the Titans. A former Big 12 performer at Texas, Coburn played enough games with the Chiefs to earn a Super Bowl ring later in the season. Listed at 6-2 and 322 pounds, the 25-year-old Coburn is a load who is known for his ability to stop the run. He has done that over the course of his time on the field, registering 22 tackles, including one for loss.
Stopping the run has been an issue for the Bears this season, which is why they would love to add some talent within the trenches. Raikes may not be the common household name, but he is certainly someone worth looking at in the middle of your defense. Another large 6-1, 320-pounder, Raikers would give the Bears some much-needed size on the interior of their line, which they have been lacking all season. He has yet to play an NFL snap, but with 58 career tackles in college and 1.5 sacks, Raikes will never be a game-changer, but at worst could be seen as a rotational piece moving forward.
Secondary health has been an issue all season for the Bears, and that continued to be the case on Sunday. When you think this team was finally healthy on defense for the first time, Kyler Gordon goes down with a groin injury, leaving his status for the rest of the season in jeopardy. Another sixth-round pick way back in 2021 by the New England Patriots, Bledsoe doesn't have much experience, as he has seen action in just 4 games. The 5-foot-11-inch safety played his college ball at Missouri from 2017-2020, but with only one career tackle in four games, Bledsoe would love for an opportunity to show what he can do.
As if working out one safety wasn't enough, why not make it two, as Darrick Forrest also spent the day working out at Halas Hall. The 26-year-old Forrest was a fifth-round selection by the Commanders in 2021 and has since logged plenty of playing time, making him by far the most experienced player among those who worked out. Listed at 5-11 and 200 pounds, Forrest is the perfect size for a safety as he mixes in his physical play style with the ability to play at a faster pace than most would expect. Since cracking into the league, Forrest has appeared in 40 games (17 starts). It has been his production on the field that stands out as he has pulled down four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and 137 tackles. He has the best chance among the defensive players to earn a spot on this roster.
By far the biggest surprise on this list was seeing a quarterback come into Chicago for a workout. Not only do the Bears have a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, but they already have three quarterbacks on their roster, with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum being the other two. Another Canadian Football product, the massive 6-5, 227-pound Elgersma, spent some time with the Green Bay Packers this summer, which could come in handy as they prepare for them. While he may be nothing more than a training camp body, adding anyone with insider knowledge of the Packers and how they operate is a plus, and it will be interesting to see if the Bears use that to their advantage.Jha’Quan Jackson (Wide Receiver)
Dohnte Meyers (Wide Receiver)
Keondre Coburn (Defensive Tackle)
Isaiah Raikes (Nose Tackle)
Josh Bledsoe (Safety)
Darrick Forrest (Safety)
Taylor Elgersma (Quarterback)
