Bears Shuffle Roster for Texans Game, Promote Fan-Favorite Wide Receiver

The Bears are dealing with some injuries at key positions ahead of their Week 2 clash with the Texans in Houston. Because of that, the team made a couple of roster changes, including promoting fan-favorite wide receiver Collin Johnson.

• Long-snapper Scott Daly has been added to the active roster.
• To make room on the active roster for Daly’s inclusion, the Bears placed offensive lineman Ryan Bates on injured reserve.
• Johnson has been elevated onto the active roster. A corresponding move has yet to be announced.

3 catches. 56 yards. 2 TD.@ChicagoBears WR Collin Johnson is having himself a game.

📺: @ProFootballHOF Game on ESPN/ABC
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— NFL (@NFL) August 2, 2024

Johnson’s promotion was necessary due to injuries to wide receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Although no official announcement regarding those injuries has been made, Johnson does provide depth in case either or both cannot play. Matt Eberflus said on Friday that he expected Allen and Odunze to be game-time decisions Sunday night. The 26-year-old Johnson was Chicago’s most productive pass-catcher in the preseason before getting injured. He was waived on cutdown day and then added to the practice squad.

Bates has been dealing with an elbow and shoulder injury since training camp. He played the majority of the snaps in last week’s 24-17 win over the Titans, replacing an ineffective Nate Davis. According to Pro Football Focus, neither player had a terrible game. Bates had 38 reps after replacing Davis, who had only 18. Davis failed the eye test, however, and was a source of several negative social media posts.

Bates must remain on injured reserve for at least four games, meaning he will be eligible to return for the Bears’ Week 6 contest against the Jaguars in London. His injury designation does not make Davis’s spot in the rotation any safer, in case you’re concerned. Matt Pryor played decent early in the preseason and Bill Murray is also on the roster. Eberflus said Pryor had a “really consistent” practice on Friday.

Daly will serve as the team’s long snapper for the second straight game in place of  Patrick Scales, who is recovering from back surgery.