Bears cut some high draft picks to get to 53-man limit

Bears draft picks took a beating Saturday as the team reduced its roster to the 53-man limit.

Gone are last year's top two picks, third-rounders Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias, along with sixth-round safety Al Afalava from the same draft class. Afalava started 13 games last year as a rookie.

"Chris Harris wasn't here last year, and we drafted Major Wright, and we like both of those players (at safety)," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "That's what affected Al a little bit. Al's a good player, but the numbers just kind of got him."

Josh Beekman, Angelo's fourth-round pick from 2007, also did not survive, even though he started 20 games at left guard the past two seasons.

"That was a tough decision," Angelo said. "But we felt that we wanted to go with younger players, in particular Johan (Asiata) and J'Marcus (Webb)."

Also released was this year's sixth-round pick, quarterback Dan LeFevour, whom the Bears hope to sign to their practice squad Sunday.

Gilbert, who was tried at defensive end and tackle, made almost no impact as a rookie, playing briefly in just four games and failing to make a tackle.

Although his production was slightly better this year, with sacks in the final two preseason games, Gilbert was the odd man out at a crowded position.

"I feel like I still could have done more," Gilbert said after Thursday's preseason finale. "Some plays I could have made, but I didn't."

Fellow defensive lineman Henry Melton, who was picked one round after Gilbert, made the final 53-man roster.

During training camp Melton demonstrated better pass-rush ability than Gilbert, and he contributes more on special teams, which the Bears value.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Gilbert had the size to play end or tackle, but he never established himself at either spot.

"It helps," Gilbert said of his versatility, "but we have two guys that can play inside and outside, Henry and Izzy (Israel Idonije)."

Iglesias had 4 preseason catches for 65 yards, including a 39-yard grab Thursday. He played in just one game last season as a rookie and missed much of training camp this year with a hamstring injury.

His departure leaves the Bears with just five wide receivers, including Earl Bennett, who did not play one snap in the preseason because of a hamstring injury.

LeFevour's release leaves the Bears with two backup quarterbacks on the active roster behind Jay Cutler. Caleb Hanie, last year's No. 2, did not play in the final three preseason games after suffering a sprained shoulder in the opener.

It is questionable whether Hanie would be able to play against the Detroit Lions in the regular-season opener, so 38-year-old Todd Collins could be the top backup.

Collins was not signed until Aug. 23, but he looked sharp at Cleveland on Thursday night in his only game action.

The Bears did not keep a fullback on the final roster but held on to four running backs, keeping both Garrett Wolfe and Kahlil Bell as backups to Matt Forte and Chester Taylor.

The other casualties of the final cutdown were offensive linemen James Marten, Levi Horn and Tim Walter, tight end Richard Angulo, fullback Eddie Williams and wide receivers Freddie Barnes and Greg Mathews.

Defensive linemen Mick Williams and Barry Turner were let go, along with linebackers Tim Shaw (who set a team record with 30 special-teams tackles last year), Kevin Malast and Kelvin Smith, cornerbacks Cornelius Brown and Woodny Turenne and safeties Quentin Scott and Aaron Webster.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Bears' 53-man roster:

Quarterbacks (3): Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, Todd Collins.

Running backs (4): Matt Forte, Chester Taylor, Kahlil Bell, Garrett Wolfe.

Wide receivers (5): Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu, Rashied Davis, Earl Bennett.

Tight ends (4): Greg Olsen, Brandon Manumaleuna, Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis.

Offensive linemen (8): Chris Williams, Roberto Garza, Olin Kreutz, Lance Louis, Frank Omiyale, Kevin Shaffer, J'Marcus Webb, Johan Asiata.

Defensive linemen (9): Julius Peppers, Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams, Israel Idonije, Mark Anderson, Marcus Harrison, Matt Toeaina, Henry Melton, Corey Wootton.

Linebackers (6): Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Nick Roach, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Brian Iwuh.

Cornerbacks (6): Zack Bowman, Charles Tillman, Corey Graham, D.J, Moore, Tim Jennings, Joshua Moore.

Safeties (5): Chris Harris, Danieal Manning, Major Wright, Craig Steltz, Josh Bullocks.

Specialists (3): Robbie Gould, Brad Maynard, Patrick Mannelly.