Langford among three Chicago Bears waived; 3 new players join roster
The Chicago Bears added wide receiver Tre McBride, running back Taquan Mizzell and long snapper Andrew DePaola on waiver claims Sunday and waived tight end Ben Braunecker, running back Jeremy Langford and long snapper Jeff Overbaugh.
McBride, a 6-foot, 210-pounder from William & Mary, spent the past two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, playing in nine games with 1 touchdown.
He was a three-time All-CAA selection and special teams player of the year as a kick returner. He is second in school history in career receptions (196), fifth in receiving yards (2,653) and all-purpose yards (4,281) and tied for sixth with 19 touchdown catches.
Mizzell, a 5-10, 185-pounder from Virginia, signed with the Baltimore Ravens in May as an undrafted free agent. He is the only player in ACC history with 1,500-plus career rushing and 1,500-plus career receiving yards, finishing his career with 2,075 rushing yards and 1,560 receiving yards.
His 195 receptions rank No. 2 all time at UVA, which also is the most all-time in ACC history by a running back.
DePaola, a 6-2, 230-pounder from Rutgers, spent the past three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing in all 48 games as the team's long snapper.
Braunecker signed with the Bears last year as an undrafted rookie out of Harvard and played in 13 games, mostly on special teams, but had two starts when the Bears opened with multiple tight ends. He caught 4 passes for 41 yards and had 4 special-teams tackles.
But this year Braunecker lost out in a numbers game at tight end. The Bears signed Dion Sims as an unrestricted free agent, drafted Adam Shaheen in the second round and opted to keep veteran Zach Miller and third-year veteran Dan Brown.
Langford, a 2015 fourth-round draft pick (106th overall), suffered an ankle injury last season that required off-season surgery. He reinjured the same ankle during the first walk-through practice of training camp and didn't play until the final preseason game.
Langford also found himself the odd man out in a crowded backfield.
Jordan Howard, who replaced Langford as the starter last year as a rookie, is the Bears' featured ball carrier. Rookie Tarik Cohen has emerged as an ideal change-of-pace back. No. 3 running back Benny Cunningham is a contributor on special teams, which Langford is not.
The inexperienced Overbaugh was signed late in the preseason after incumbent long snapper Patrick Scales suffered a knee injury.
Getting some practice:
The Bears have signed eight of the 10 players they're allowed on the practice squad, all of whom were among Saturday's cutdown when rosters were reduced to 53.
The eight include wide receiver Tanner Gentry, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming who had an impressive preseason, catching 4 passes for 77 yards, including a 45-yard TD reception from Mitch Trubisky.
Also re-signing were safety DeAndre Houston-Carson, a sixth-round draft pick in 2016, offensive linemen Dieugot Joseph and Brandon Greene, defensive lineman Rashaad Coward, outside linebacker Isaiah Irving and inside linebackers Jonathan Anderson and John Timu.
Tight end Ben Braunecker, who played in 12 games last season after signing with the Bears as an undrafted rookie, could be added to the practice squad soon. Braunecker originally was on the 53-man roster but was waived Sunday.
• Bob LeGere will have more on the Bears; 53-man roster and practice squad unit later today at dailyherald.com.