The Chicago Bears' 53-man roster is starting to take shape as they head into Friday's preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. This year's squad is shaping up to be quite the mix between returning players and fresh faces, giving Bears head coach Ben Johnson a solid blend as he prepares for his first regular season in the Windy City.
The Bears' offseason has been filled with plenty of additions, yes, but it also featured workouts and meetings with players that didn't result in a contract being signed. One of Chicago's tryouts that didn't go anywhere was with veteran wide receiver DJ Chark, who auditioned for the Bears in late July only to sign with the Atlanta Falcons shortly after that.
Although a WR with Chark's experience would've been a nice addition, in theory, to the Bears' roster, it turns out they may have been wise not to put pen to paper with the vet wideout.
TRANSACTION: The Falcons have signed QB Ben DiNucci. They have also released WR DJ Chark and waived/injury QB Emory Jones.https://t.co/JEuV1Sz72E
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 18, 2025
Former Bears Target WR DJ Chark Released by Falcons on Monday
On Monday morning, the Falcons announced that they have released Chark from their roster, making him a free agent for the second time this offseason. The former LSU Tiger hit the open market in March after spending an injury-filled 2024 season with the Los Angeles Chargers, and didn't land a contract until Atlanta signed him on July 25.
Chark's signing with the Falcons came only four days after it was reported that he had previously met with the Bears. Johnson had previously worked with the former Pro Bowl WR while he was the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator in 2022, and the hope was that a reunion could help Chark turn back the clock while adding another viable threat to quarterback Caleb Williams' arsenal.
Obviously, Chark's meeting with the Bears didn't amount to anything, and his being cut by the Falcons suggests that general manager Ryan Poles & Co. made the right decision to offer him a contract.
Chark's release comes after two forgettable preseason outings with the Falcons, resulting in one reception on three targets for 11 yards. It doesn't help that he also tallied abysmal Pro Football Focus grades of 55.0 and 52.6 for overall offense and receiving, respectively.
Chark being cut is the latest sign that his NFL career is trending in the wrong direction. Injuries limited him to only seven games with the Chargers last season, and he failed to make the most of his limited opportunities, finishing with only four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.
While it would've been nice for the old Chark to be added to the Bears' WR room, they should be just fine without him. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are back for more after fostering chemistry with Williams last year, and new faces like Olamide Zaccheaus, Luther Burden III, and Devin Duvernay help round out the respectable unit.
As Chark is forced to find a new team to join to continue his NFL career, Bears fans can rest easy knowing that the team's WR situation is just fine without him.