Why Roquan Smith PUP status with Chicago Bears may be insignificant

The Chicago Bears removed Roquan Smith from the PUP list, a day after he requested a trade from the team. Considering the timing, a lot of people put two and two together and said that this could be some sort of power play by the team.

However, when Smith was originally placed on the PUP we wrote that the decision likely did not have to do with his contract situation at all. Placing him on the PUP meant that he failed a physical, so if the Bears did do it over a contract dispute, it meant they told their doctors to medically fail him.

Now, they are telling their doctors to medically pass him. This is a dangerous game to play, and the reality is that Smith may have been dealing with something, albeit minor, and it took a few weeks for him to truly pass a physical.

The reality is that this may have no barring on his contract negotiations whatsoever. Smith already reported to camp, and if he did not, it would have meant mandatory fines.

Now that he is at camp, he can stretch and then work out off to the side, avoiding team drills. From here, the Chicago Bears will have a decision to either let him do this form of a hold-in, or they can choose to fine him.

However, we have seen in many other places that most teams are understanding in this situation. The Steelers saw this with TJ Watt, and Diontae Johnson, while the New Orleans Saints are seeing this with Marshon Lattimore currently. Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf are other players who reported to camp, were not on the PUP, did not participate in team drills, and were not fined.

So, Roquan Smith being off of the PUP just means that he is off of the PUP and that doctors physically cleared him. The most likely next option is that he holds in, even though he is healthy, and by most accounts, the situation remains status quo.

If the Chicago Bears do choose to fine him, it will be a powerplay that some are speaking of, but as of now, there is little indication that this is the case.