The Chicago Bears ventured into the free agent pool in training camp with four days to go until their first preseason game.
Former Browns Draft Pick Signs Contract With Bears in Training Camp
Demetric Felton More WR Than RB
“#Bears roster move: We have signed RB Demetric Felton,” Bears PR posted on X on July 28.
Felton, 26, was a sixth-round pick (No. 211 overall) by the Browns in the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Cleveland, doing more damage as a receiver than a returner. Felton had 18 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie to seven carries for 24 yards.
He saw inconsistent playing time in 2022. Felton finished the campaign with eight yards on two receptions. He also lost four yards on his lone carry.
The Browns waived Felton on August 29, 2023.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed him to their practice squad two days later. He joins a Bears squad that is deep at the position, particularly at the top. D’Andre Swift is backed up by former starter Khalil Herbert and 2022 draft pick Roschon Johnson. Behind them, though, are veteran Travis Homer and rookie Ian Wheeler.
Both players received some attention from the training staff during Saturday’s practice. Moreover, this could be a telling sign of the Bears’ plans for the Hall of Fame game.
Adding Felton gives the Bears the option to sit their top three backs and play a backfield consisting of him and Wheeler, with Homer holding down his usual role on special teams, where he saw 61% of the Bears’ snaps last season, per Pro Football Reference.
He could follow in the footsteps of Darrynton Evans, who joined the team in October 2023 and appeared in five games during the regular season.
Bears Take Advantage of League Rule to Add Demetric Felton to Training Camp Roster
“#Bears received roster exemption for international player Tory Taylor,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on July 28.
The Bears used the IPP exemption to add reserve offensive lineman Roy Mbaeteka in 2023.
They traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles to select Taylor in the fourth round (No. 122 overall) in the 2024 draft. Taylor spent four years in college at the University of Iowa, where he was a weapon for the Hawkeyes. However, he did not attend high school in America.
That would satisfy at least one critical aspect of qualifying for the NFL’s International Pathway Program exemption. The program features several new tweaks for the 2024 season.
“Beginning in 2024, each of the 32 NFL clubs is eligible to fill a 17th roster spot on its practice squad, reserved for an international player. A participating club is permitted to elevate its international practice squad player to its active roster a maximum of three times throughout the season — increasing the flexibility for clubs to leverage the additional player, while creating more opportunity to play,” the league explained via NFL.com on January 7.
“Each club will also receive one training camp roster exemption for a qualifying player. Clubs may choose to sign players identified through the NFL’s IPP program or can choose to independently scout for international talent.”
Where things get murky regarding just how this came about is the other key tenets of eligibility.
“A qualifying international player is a person whose citizenship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and Canada, and who have a maximum of two years of United States high school experience,” the league stipulated. “In addition, an international player must (i) satisfy all NFL player eligibility rules and (ii) have been eligible for a prior NFL Draft.”
Taylor is an Australian citizen by birth and was restricted from benefitting from NIL revenue due to his international status. But his principal place of residence by definition has been in the US for the past four seasons. He has also already been drafted.
Head Coach Matt Eberflus will speak with the media on Tuesday.
Perhaps more details about this creative way to free up a roster spot will work. Taylor has been one of the more consistently positive performers during the offseason. But there have been no live games to compare him and teammate Corliss Waitman, who has also drawn positive reviews.
It is interesting that the Bears chose to make this move rather than cutting Waitman, though, given the investment in Taylor.
