Costly Roster Cuts for the Bears
P.J. Walker expressed concern over his Bears backup job after Saturday's loss to Buffalo for a good reason.
The Bears have confirmed Walker has been waived, and the same is true for two others, including former Raiders first-round tackle Alex Leatherwood.
Walker was in a battle with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent from Division II Shepherd and also last year's No. 3, Nathan Peterman. It isn't clear yet whether Peterman or Bagent emerged as the No. 2, or if the Bears are even keeping three quarterbacks. Hosever, NFL Network report says Walker won't be part of the scene.
The Bears really must not have liked Walker's effort because it's costing them $1.51 million in dead salary cap to cut him. Their savings is only $150,000, according to Overthecap.com. Walker had signed a contract of two years and $4 million with $2.01 million guaranteed.
In preseason, Walker had the worst passer rating (55.7) and yards per attempt (4.2) while also having the worst completion percentage (47.8). He did have better statistics overall Saturday in the finale against Buffalo than Bagent. Peterman didn't play in the last preseason game.
"I aint no fool," Walker said after Saturday's game, when he was third QB. "I can read the (QB) room, you know what I'm saying? I know what it is.
"At the end of the day, it's a business and if you ain't performing you ain't going to be able to play."
Leatherwood had been moved to guard by the Bears this training camp and preseason as they suffered through an injury plagued training camp at that position. He had played guard for the Raiders after failing at tackle, but not well enough to make their roster last year. So they waived him and the Bears claimed him. He had missed part of the early season with illness and saw the field for only 32 plays on offense last year.
His inability to make the team results in $4.59 million of dead cap space for the Bears but they don't have to count all of it this year. They can take half of it against the cap this year if they choose. The money is part of Leatherwood's $14.39 million rookie contract as a first-round pick. The Bears didn't get to do a new deal with Leatherwood because they signed him off waivers.
The cuts also include undrafted rookie guard Gabe Houy. Houy, from Pitt, was waived injured after being taken off the field on a cart due to injury in Saturday's game.
All teams must have their 90-player maximum preseason rosters down to 53 players by Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
