The Chicago Bears’ special teams unit took a bit of a hit last week as they waived linebacker Carl Jones Jr. ahead of their matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Jones had racked up six tackles while playing the eighth-most special teams snaps on the team (148), per Pro Football Focus, indicating that his exit has left a hole in ST coordinator Richard Hightower's unit.
Chicago likely hoped that Jones would go unclaimed on waivers, which could put them in a spot to re-sign the special teamer to the practice squad. However, they were unlucky in the quest, as the Baltimore Ravens claimed Jones on Monday, per Brad Biggs of The Athletic.
Despite losing Jones to the Ravens, the Bears didn’t stop in their pursuit and found themselves another veteran linebacker who can play special teams. On Wednesday, Biggs reported that the Bears signed former Detroit Lions defender Ty Summers to the practice squad.
Summers has appeared in 88 career games, with most of his playing time coming on special teams.
Bears Take a Swing on Ty Summers Following Carl Jones Jr.'s Exit
With Summers heading to the taxi squad, the Bears can now call him up to the active roster at least three times before having to decide if they’ll sign him or not to the 53-man roster. Summers is now the second ex-Lion to join the Bears’ practice squad in as many weeks. The first was veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who joined Chicago on Nov. 18.
Reeves-Maybin has made a career out of being a core special teamer and was named to the Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro with the Lions in 2023. Reeves-Maybin has appeared in the Bears' last two games, playing a total of 33 snaps on special teams.
Meanwhile, Summers appeared in five games with the Bears’ NFC North foe this season. The 29-year-old linebacker was primarily used on special teams, playing 66 snaps. The 6-foot-1 LB initially joined the Lions at the beginning of October, but they cut him loose almost three weeks later.
However, the Lions quickly brought Summers back on Oct. 21, but eventually parted ways with him on Nov. 22.
Heading into the final games of the season, Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower has a couple of options available that he can turn to to make up for the sudden departure of Jones Jr. Whether it's Reeves-Maybin or Summers, the hope is that they can help the Bears continue to improve on their 88.5 special teams grade (12th).