Chicago shuffled its practice squad for Week 1: Carl Jones Jr. was signed back to the practice squad after a brief 53-man stint, Powers Echols was released, and Kalinic, Manning, and Owens joined the unit, while Elkin and Garner were cut. Jones Jr. returns with special-teams familiarity and LB depth for Bears depth-chart planning.

These moves add veteran depth at TE/CB/S and LB, signaling a readiness to weather early-season injuries. Kalinic’s CFL background, Manning’s Oregon ties, and Owens’ 2023 Giants path bring varied experience, while Elkin and Garner exit to trim the roster. The Bears aim to keep flexible coverage and backup options on hand as Week 1 approaches.

The Chicago Bears are shoring up their depleted secondary by lining up three defensive backs this week: safety Mark Perry and cornerbacks Mekhi Garner and Kaleb Hayes. Their signings come after a weekend preseason tilt with the Dolphins in which several Bears DBs left the game with injuries, and with Jaylon Johnson on the NFI list and Kyler Gordon and Zah Frazier dealing with health issues. The trio participated in a larger Monday tryout, underscoring Black-and-White’s intent to add depth for camp and early preseason rather than immediate long-term fixes. The moves signal Chicago’s plan to weather practice wear and ongoing camp injuries while depth players earn a chance to prove themselves.

Perry, Garner, and Hayes bring a mix of undrafted free-agent background and special-teams versatility. Perry, a 2024 UDFA from TCU who has bounced among practice squads; Garner, a 2023 UDFA who appeared in three games with Philadelphia and later spent time with the Renegades; Hayes, another 2023 UDFA with multiple NFL stops but no regular-season games yet—each adds potential depth and competition for snaps in a position group hit hard by injuries. With Johnson on NFI and the Bears cautious about training camp, these additions aim to stabilize the back end without disrupting player development as Chicago eyes a fuller health return in advance of deeper preseason work.