The Chicago Bears Updated Injured Reserve Review
The Bears had high hopes that Quintin Demps would be a good solution at the strong safety position this season. However, when he was on the field, he was not like he was when he played for Houston. Demps had problems tackling and was showing signs of age. Then, he broke his forearm and ended up on injured reserve. His replacement, Adrian Amos, has been stellar and may make Demps expendable.
Demps is only in the first year of a three-year deal so it would appear as if the Bears are locked into something with him. However, as they have done with several of their players, they build a one year and out clause into his contract. They would pay him $4,906,250 if they chose to cut him at the end of this season with just a $666,667 cap hit.
This has made him a bargain.
It’s likely that Demps won’t be back for 2018. If the Bears feel confident in Amos, and they should, they will either relegate Demps to backup duty or let him walk. What they decide to do with him depends on what they think of their backups and their faith in Adrian Amos.
When the dust settles, don’t expect Demps to be back in 2018.
Chicago Bears
Deiondre Hall is a guy the Bears have some interest in for the future but aren’t going to keep him on the active roster. The Bears have stated that Hall suffered a hamstring injury in the final preseason game and that’s why he’s in IR. Chicago most likely stashed him on injured reserve to keep him from going to another team with an injury that could heal up quickly. Hall could return in the period of eligibility but it’s unlikely the Bears would want to bring him off injured reserve.
It looks like the Bears like Hall and want to keep him around for the future. He could figure into their depth next year in training camp and quite possibly make the active roster with a good camp showing. He has a lot of skill and promise but just needs to develop.
Willie Young, one of Chicago’s better defenders, went out of the lineup with a torn triceps suffered against the Packers. He has been out since almost the middle of October. Young has been one of Chicago’s more reliable and productive players over the last few seasons and the Bears would want to bring him back for the final year of his deal.
But, the Bears did build in an out clause after two years in his deal. The deal would pay him $9,050,000 for the first two years leaving Chicago with $900,000 in dead cap space. Should the Bears want to let Young go, they would be in a financial position to do so.
But don’t count on the Bears to let Young walk next season. You can expect him to be back in a Bears’ uniform next year. But, they won’t be taking him off injured reserve this season as the triceps injury won’t be healed in time.