The Chicago Bears are preparing to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12, and they felt the need to shake up their group beforehand. On Tuesday, with their first practice of the week still one day away, the Bears signed veteran Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
This comes after the Bears experienced more special teams issues against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11.
At any rate, the Bears brought in another potential contributor with a notable side gig.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Signs With Bears Before Steelers Game
Bears Add Former Lions, Texans LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Reeves-Maybin, 30, is a 6-foot-1, 220-something-pound linebacker. Reeves-Maybin was the No. 124 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, where he spent five of his seven seasons alongside current Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
He arrives with 221 total tackles, 8 pass deflections, 5 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries, and 1.5 sacks in his 114 games played (14 starts).
Largely a special teams maven, he started 11 games in 2021 for the Lions.
Moreover, Reeves-Maybin was teammates with Bears’ safeties Jonathan Owens on the Houston Texans in 2022 and C.J. Gardner-Johnson on the Lions in 2023.
Reeves-Maybin earned Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro honors with the Lions in 2023 as a core special teamer. The Bears need him to prove he can still contribute at that level as they bolster their roster for the final stretch.
Bears Special Teams Need Boost
The Bears have allowed the second-most yards per kick return and the fifth-most yards per punt. The Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers are the only other teams that rank in the top 10 in yards allowed in both kicks and punts.
The Bears defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12 largely due to their special teams, though that was in the field goal and kick return games.
Their coverage units again struggled, perhaps incentivizing Bears general manager Ryan Poles to explore outside options.
The Bears’ coverage units have been hindered by injuries. Specifically at linebacker, typical special teamers Noah Sewell and D’Marco Jackson have seen increased defensive reps amid T.J. Edwards’ continued injury absence. They still have rookie Ruben Hyppolite II.
However, he has not played a defensive snap since Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bears Deal Good News for NFLPA President
Reeves-Maybin is experienced, and he is also the NFLPA president. His landing with the Bears could prove pivotal in March 2026.
Then, Reeves-Maybin will be up for re-election and vulnerable to replacement.
That is, if he is not on a roster. His time with the Bears could, at most, last through the end of the season. But it would mean he was on an active roster to finish the campaign. The Bears are simply continuing what they have tried to do all season long: overcome hurdles created largely by injuries to key players at critical positions.
Still, they are 7-3 and would be the No. 3 seed in the NFC if the playoffs began today. Moreover, it is always better to improve off a win than a loss.