Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have made their first cuts as they work to finalize their 53-man roster, starting with “releasing” cornerback Terell Smith, per The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
Biggs noted the addition of Clark Phillips III, whom the Bears acquired in their trade sending Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, in his reporting, though it remains possible that Smith returns as a member of the practice squad.
This is just the first of many cuts for the Bears, though.
Chicago Bears Roster Cuts Tracker (Source)
- CB Terell Smith (Biggs)
- WR Scotty Miller (Adam Schefter/ESPN)
- WR JP Richardson (Tom Pelissero/The Ringer & Netflix)
- OT Jedrick Wills (Schefter)
- OT Kiran Amegadjie (Matt Zenitz/CBS Sports)
- LB Jon Rhattigan (Aaron Wilson/KPRC 2)
- OL Caden Barnett (Biggs)
- S Anthony Johnson (Biggs)
- CB William Wright
- S Marlen Sewell
- RB Salvon Ahmed
The Bears selected Smith in the fifth-round, taking the now-27-year-old CB with the 165th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bears Part With SB Champion Scotty Miller, CB Terell Smith First as Roster Cutdown Deadline Nears
Scotty Miller Follows Terell Smith as First Bears Roster Cuts
Smith has started six of the 26 games that he played in for the Bears, and at one time was in competition with current starter and 2023 second-round pick Tyrique Stevenson for the full-time job opposite Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson.
However, injuries have been an issue, wiping out his 2025 season entirely.
Smith was in and out for the Bears during the offseason program and training camp, which may have spurred them to add Phillips, who had over 600 reps on the perimeter in 2023 and 2024.
Miller is a former draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a Super Bowl champion, but he was at least matched during his time with the Bears by several younger and more dynamic options.
Bears Will Bring Some Cut Players Back
This day is notorious for the amount of movement it produces around the league, but there is more coming. The deadline for cuts is 6 p.m. ET today, Sunday, August 30. Waiver claims are due by 1 p.m. ET on Monday, August 31.
After that, teams can begin assembling their practice squads.
Afforded 90 roster spots during the offseason (91 with International Player Pathway program participants, and restricted to 53 during the regular season, they get 16 practice squad slots.
The league again allows an additional spot for a player in the IPP program, but the bottom line is several of the players let go today will never miss a practice session with the Bears, and the same is true around the NFL.
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