The Bears have moved on from veteran wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, reaching an injury settlement and officially releasing him from injured reserve on Friday, according to the NFL Transactions wire.
McCloud, 29, arrived in Chicago in August after a long run of short stays around the league. He originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2018 out of Clemson, and his first stop in Buffalo came while he was in the second year of a four-year, $2.6 million contract. The Bills waived him after the preseason, and the Panthers quickly claimed him off waivers before letting him go again.
That kicked off a stretch that kept McCloud moving. He went back to the Bills’ practice squad a few days later and later signed a futures deal in 2020, then was waived in July and landed with the Steelers during training camp. Pittsburgh brought him back on a one-year deal for 2021, and after that season he moved to the 49ers on a two-year contract in 2022.
McCloud then hit free agency and signed a two-year deal worth up to $6 million with the Falcons. Atlanta released him, and he joined the Giants soon after before New York cut him in December. The Bears picked him up in August.
This season, McCloud appeared in six games for the Falcons and finished with seven catches for 69 yards. He also handled return duties, bringing back two punts for zero yards and four kickoffs for 91 yards.
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Bills Still Face One Brutal Doubt Despite Super Bowl Hype
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Two of those forecasts have Buffalo falling to the Los Angeles Rams, while another has the season ending against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is only opinion, of course, not a result stamped into the schedule, but it does capture the lingering doubt that hangs over a team trying to turn momentum into something bigger. Promoting Joe Brady to head coach was meant to sharpen the direction, yet the Super Bowl talk still comes with an asterisk until the Bills prove they can finish the job. [Read more 🡒]