Bears Roster Moves Reflect Injury Woes

Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears made a few roster moves on Friday ahead of their trip out to Santa Clara to take on the 49ers in the new Levi’s Stadium.  The Bears cut veterans Tony Fiammetta and Kelvin Hayden and waives rookie quarterback David Fales.

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Fiammetta has been struggling with a hamstring injury since the end of the preseason.  He was the only fullback on the Bears’ roster.  Hayden looked to be the odd man out at the end of training camp, as he was waived, but he was brought back shortly after getting cut.  As a vested veteran, he doesn’t have to clear waivers and becomes a free agent, so it’s possible that there could be a handshake deal that when the injuries settle down, the Bears will bring him back.

Aug 28, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback David Fales (12) warms up before a game against the Chicago Bears at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest question is around rookie quarterback David Fales.  A lot of people were surprised that the Bears kept Fales on the 53-man roster when final cuts were made.  Most experts believed that Fales was an ideal practice squad candidate.  Fales has been nursing a sore shoulder that had him listed as OUT for Sunday’s game anyway.  The belief is that he may have been waived/injured.  If he clears waivers, an injury settlement could be worked out.  At that point, the Bears couldn’t re-sign him until six weeks  after the agreed upon “healthy” date, but other teams could sign him in the meantime.

You had better believe these moves were to bring some guys up from the practice squad.  The Bears have been decimated with injuries after just the first game.  Offensive linemen Matt Slauson and Roberto Garza are both already listed as Out, wide receiver Josh Morgan was moved to Doubtful status after suffering a setback to his groin injury  while both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are listed as Questionable for Sunday.

With Santonio Holmes as the only healthy wide receiver on the roster, it’s likely the Bears will bring up a couple of wide receivers.  Chris Williams and Josh Bellamy, both of whom spent the offseason with the Bears, are the most likely candidates to come up to the 53-man roster.  To fill the backup center role, practice squader Taylor Boggs is likely to get the call up ro the 53-man roster.

This is not the way the Bears wanted to go into San Francisco – limping.