The Bears haven’t needed their practice squad to carry the load this season, but the bye week is a good reminder that depth can turn into a lifeline fast. Chicago has already dipped into that group at running back, and a few more names are sitting there waiting for the next opening.
Salvon Ahmed is the clearest example of how quickly that can happen. He got his first NFL regular-season action since 2023 in Chicago’s 27-24 Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he made it count.
Ahmed was the Bears’ most efficient back in that game, rushing five times for 25 yards and averaging five yards per carry. Kyle Monangai is likely to be back after the bye, which sends Ahmed back to the practice squad for now, but he’s already shown he can be called up again if the Bears need help on special teams or another injury forces their hand.
The secondary is another spot where the Bears may need to keep a close eye on their practice squad. Elijah Jones stands out because Chicago has already dealt with injuries to Malik Muhammad and Tyrique Stevenson in recent weeks, and Coby Bryant was lost before the season even started.
Jones played for the Arizona Cardinals last year and finished with three tackles and two pass deflections. If he gets the call, special teams may be his main lane at first, but the Bears could need more from him if the injury situation keeps getting worse.
At receiver, Scotty Miller looks like the most likely practice-squad option to surface first. Kaden Davis has a case because of his return ability, but Miller’s veteran track record gives him the edge.
He’s made big plays in big moments, including the Buccaneers’ NFC Title game in the 2020 season. Luther Burden III’s concussion against Tampa Bay may not be as serious with the bye week built in, but it still puts the position on watch.
If Chicago needs another body on offense, Miller would be a dependable target.
Linebacker depth has been hanging by a thread for most of the season, and Wesley Matthews III is the only linebacker on the practice squad. That alone makes him worth monitoring.
He doesn’t have regular-season experience, but the Bears like having him around, and special teams would likely be his first job if he’s elevated. With Zavier Scott injured, that kind of role could matter.
Then there’s the tight end situation, which got thinner after Cole Kmet’s season-ending injury. Colston Loveland and Sam Roush are holding down the top two spots on the depth chart, but the Bears are one more injury away from needing help.
Ismail hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game yet, but he’s been with the team since last season and knows the offense well enough to step in if needed. Kmet’s injury opened the door for him, and he’s another practice-squad player who could be asked to contribute before the season is over.
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The bye week arrives at a useful moment for a class that has mixed early contributions with some uneven development. Some of these rookies have already been asked to handle starter-level responsibility, while others have had to wait for chances or push through early challenges, and the second half now becomes a defining stretch for how much trust they can build. For a Bears team trying to sort out both the present and the future, the next few weeks should say plenty about which newcomers are ready to keep rising. [Read more 🡒]