Bears bolster depth on defense and offense with new signings |
Dustin Riese
· · 2 hours ago
It's no secret that the Chicago Bears have been struggling with injuries for much of the season, but their recent injuries have really taken a toll on this team. Before their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Bears were down not only T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, but also Noah Sewall, as all three of their starting linebackers were inactive.
Sewall and Edwards are seen as more of the week-to-week candidates, while Edmunds is expected to be out a minimum of four weeks after being added to the Injured Reserve List. With his absence and the future of Edwards and Sewall unclear at least until this Friday, it was only a matter of time before Ryan Poles addressed this area of the roster, as the Bears needed more bodies. Well, Poles has indeed done just that, as former Washington Commanders fifth-round pick Dominique Hampton and the Bears have reached a deal for him to land on their practice squad. Initially drafted as a linebacker, Hampton was a versatile player, at least, as he bounced between linebacker and safety during his time with the Commanders. Initially a practice squad member for the Commanders, Hampton made the 53-man roster and appeared in six games. While all six of those games were on Special Teams as opposed to the actual defensive side, adding Hampton gives the Bears another special teams body as well as some much-needed linebacker depth to move forward with. Hampton wasn't the only roster addition the Bears made as Chicago continues to piece together enough bodies to keep a full-staffed roster. In addition to Hampton being added to the team, the Bears also placed tight end Nikola Kalinic — whom they signed on November 22 — on the injured reserve/practice squad list after putting together an impressive overall first game in Chicago.
The Bears also added tight end Qadir Ismail and defensive end Jeremiah Martin to their practice squad to fill up the remaining spots on their roster. When it comes to Ismail, although a bit undersized for a tight end at 232 pounds, his 6-6 frame makes him an intriguing target to be used in the Red Zone should he ever land on the roster.
Ismail has yet to appear in an NFL game, but was a fairly productive player in college when given the opportunity. His best season came in 2023 when he logged 16 receptions for 135 yards. That alone shows what he can do if he has an opportunity to catch the ball, as Chicago is adding yet another offensive piece to its practice squad.
When it comes to Martin, he has all the intangibles to be a reliable depth piece for any organization, and the Bears are hoping to have unlocked something in him while adding him to their practice squad. Listed at 6-4 and 267 pounds, Martin has excellent size for an Edge rusher, which is why he is listed more as a defensive end than a straight Edge rusher.
Another player who has yet to play in an NFL game, Martin's overall potential alone is worth adding him to your roster, as he is a highly raw talent. In five seasons with the Texas A&M Aggies and Washington Huskies, Martin was an impact player, appearing in 13 games twice and in at least 8 games each season.
After four years of trying to figure things out, Martin came into his own during his final season with the Huskies and emerged as one of their best defensive front options. It was in that season that he logged a career-best 8.5 sacks, accounting for all but one of his collegiate sacks. Keep an eye on more moves to follow as the Bears continue to go through the motions of dealing with a rash of injuries.
