Despite losing cornerback Kyler Gordon to injured reserve for the second time this season, the Chicago Bears did not elevate or otherwise add any players at his position to the roster ahead of their home game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15.
Instead, the Bears brought up an accomplished veteran linebacker in Jalen Reeves-Maybin and a promising young running back in Brittain Brown.
Both players have experience in the Bears’ system, which benefits all parties.
Bears Elevate Brittain Brown, Jalen Reeves-Maybin From Practice Squad
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Exhausts Final Elevation With Bears
Reeves-Maybin signed with the Bears in November amid a slew of injuries at linebacker. He entered the league as a fourth-round pick, selected 124th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
He was a Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro as a special teamer with Detroit in 2023.
It was also during the 2019 season with the Lions that Reeves-Maybin first crossed paths with Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Reeves-Maybin’s addition is noteworthy for several reasons, not the least of which being that the Bears are as healthy at linebacker as they have been in weeks. T.J. Edwards is back starting, with Noah Sewell re-joining him.
Ruben Hyppolite II is healthy, too.
The Bears have gotten tremendous efforts from Amen Ogbongbemiga and D’Marco Jackson, who remain available.
They also signed veteran Ty Summers to the practice squad this past week. In fact, the only usual rotation player who is missing is a key one, starter Tremaine Edmunds, who remains on IR with a groin injury.
This is the final time the Bears can elevate Reeves-Maybin.
The Bears must sign Reeves-Maybin, who has yet to record a tackle in his two games played, if they want to dress him for another contest.
Brittain Brown a Fitting Addition
Brown’s addition to the game-day roster is a bit more straightforward. In addition to Gordon, the Bears also ruled running back Travis Homer (ankle) out. Roschon Johnson is out for the season and on IR, and Brown has shown well for the Bears when on the field.
The 28-year-old tailback has five carries for 37 yards, but brings a bigger body (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) to an otherwise smallish–really, short– backfield for the Bears.
Despite this being Brown’s third game, he has only been elevated to the active roster twice.
The Bears previously signed Brown to the active roster in November amid myriad injuries. They cut him before their Week 13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and re-signed him to the practice squad last week.
Brown, the No. 250 overall pick of the 2022 draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, will operate behind D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, with wide receiver DJ Moore potentially mixing in.