Chicago Bears news: Welcome Victor Cruz, goodbye Connor Shaw
In order for the Chicago Bears to make room for wide receiver Victor Cruz, the team waived quarterback Connor Shaw.
Update: Mark Sanchez hurt his knee so the Chicago Bears rescinded their waiver of Connor Shaw and instead waived wide receiver Jhajuan Seales. Sanchez is expected to return at the start of training camp.
Remember when the Chicago Bears re-signed quarterback Connor Shaw three months ago? Many thought he’d be in the mix to get some reps and perhaps fight for the backup job behind Mike Glennon. Well, never mind.
The Bears announced on Tuesday that they waived Shaw in order to make room for wide receiver Victor Cruz.
Shaw became expendable when the Bears signed Mark Sanchez and drafted Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He missed the entire 2016 regular season after breaking his leg in a preseason game.
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Cruz adds another question to the Bears’ wide receiver corps. They could have an incredibly good wide receivers unit, or the situation could fall flat. There are some pretty good names on the roster. Players like Rueben Randle, Markus Wheaton, and Cruz are talented and have shown their talents, but each is dealing with injury. Kevin White is the Bears’ 2015 first-round pick, but he’s played just four games in two seasons. Cameron Meredith, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015, showed promise.
Shaw was also an undrafted rookie free agent, signed by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. At 6-foot-0 and 206 pounds, he is undersized for the position. He played in just one regular-season game in his career, coming in the 2014 regular season finale.
The Bears now have three quarterbacks. Glennon is the presumed starter with Sanchez and Trubisky battling for the backup role. Of course, with Trubisky being such a high draft pick, don’t expect him to be a backup for very long.
The Bears may just bring Shaw back later. He could sign as a practice squad member if he doesn’t sign with another team.