The Chicago Bears are already making changes to their 2024 practice squad. They have dismissed two players who were part of the club during this summer’s NFL training camp and added three new players, including more depth at centre.
The Bears added third-year defensive lineman Sam Roberts, third-year wide receiver Samori Toure, and former New York Jets centre Chris Glaser to their 16-man practice squad on Thursday, per the team’s August 29 transaction wire.
The Bears also cut safety Quindell Johnson and undrafted rookie defensive tackle Dashaun Mallory off their practice squad in matching moves.
Toure and Roberts were expected to join the Bears practice squad, according to earlier reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, Glaser is a recent signing who should offer further depth for the team’s unsteady offensive line interior going into the 2024 campaign.
During the 2023 season, Glaser, 25, divided his time between guard and centre and appeared in five games with the Jets, including one start. On 83 snaps, he gave up one half-sack and two pressures. He demonstrated ability as the team’s run-blocker as well.
On their 53-man roster, the Bears have three players that can play centre, but Ryan Bates, who hasn’t played in a team drill since August 28, just recently returned to practice. In the event that Bates is sidelined for Week 1, the Bears will probably start Coleman Shelton at centre against the Tennessee Titans, with Doug Kramer Jr., a sixth-round selection in 2022, filling in for him.
If Bates is out, the Bears may also think about adding Glaser to the starting lineup for Week 1.
A look at DT Sam Roberts for the Bears in Week 1 Elevation
With Zacch Pickens, a projected third-round pick in 2023, out of commission, it appears that the Bears are already organising a backup plan for their defensive line against the Titans, even though they still have over a week to prepare for their season opener.
Pickens is still out due to a groin injury he suffered towards the conclusion of camp, but the Bears are hopeful about his chances of getting back on the field because they did not place him on the injured reserve list after making their roster cuts. Sadly, it appears from Schefter’s most recent report that Pickens won’t be ready for Week 1.
On August 28, Schefter posted on X, “According to sources, former Patriots DL Sam Roberts is signing to the Bears practice squad with the intention of being called up for Week 1.”
With Pickens out with an injury, the Bears may just want to add more depth to their defensive interior, but calling up Roberts might also mean they don’t think Pickens will be well enough to play against the Titans in Week 1. With Pickens sidelined, the Bears’ 53-man roster consists of just three healthy defensive tackles: Andrew Billings, recent trade acquisition Chris Williams, and 2023 second-round choice Gervon Dexter Sr.
Roberts would make a valuable addition to the club on game day, even if his main role is to substitute for other players on special teams and play in emergencies. In three preseason games in 2024, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive tackle recorded seven tackles and four pressures.
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