Bear Digest

Bears Bring Back Familiar Tight End for Practice Squad

Tommy Sweeney has returned to the Bears with the practice squad after being cut at the end of training camp, as the seek to fortify a position lacking depth.

Gene Chamberlain

Tommy Sweeney catches a touchdown pass against Kansas City to close preseason.
Tommy Sweeney catches a touchdown pass against Kansas City to close preseason. / Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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The Bears brought back a familiar face from the offseason and preseason to fit the hole they have on their practice squad at tight end.

They have signed Tommy Sweeney to the practice squad after losing Teagan Quitoriano, when he was plucked off their practice squad by the Houston Texans.

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The Bears were apparently more impressed with Stephen Carlson and Brenden Bates because they planned to have both of those tight ends for the practice squad but Bates was waived for the practice squad and then signed away by the Jets. Bates hasn't caught a pass with the Jets in four games.

Quitoriano was added to the practice squad after they lost Bates and it looked like a good move until he was signed Tuesday off of their practice squad by his hold team, the Texans. In the meantime, the Bears had put Carlson on the 53-man roster and he suffered a shoulder injury in practice before he could appear in a game, so he went on IR.

There is a real need for someone familiar with their offense to come in and be available in case of an injury to another tight end.

The Bears also announced they are opening the 21-day window in which they can activate defensive end Jacob Martin from injured reserve. He has been on there with a toe injury since the season started, and actually had the injury at the outset of training camp. Martin coming onto the regular roster would make for a difficult situation for defensive end Dominique Robinson, who hasn't been active for a game but is on the 53-man roster.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.