Earlier today, the Chicago Bears signed cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. while waiving long snapper Luke Elkin. Before getting into the defensive backfield, Elkin’s release means that undrafted free agent Beau Gardner is the last long snapper standing and has presumably won the job.
The 26-year-old Bishop is the fourth defensive back the Bears have signed since Friday, joining Xavier Woods, Brandon Hill, and William Wright. They also added safety Marlen Sewell on Tuesday.
Bishop (5’9”, 182) was originally
a UDFA of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, and he appeared in all 17 games as a rookie with 6 starts, recording 4 interceptions and 45 tackles. The Steelers cut him before the 2025 season, and he signed to the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad for all of last year. Bishop was hit with a three-game suspension this offseason, and the Saints waived him in July.
Chicago’s defensive back room has been hit hard with injuries of late, as they are also without Cam Lewis, who was carted off the field yesterday with an apparent ankle injury. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said he doesn’t think he’ll be out for long, while adding there is no definite timeline. Lewis was cross-training at a couple of positions, but last week’s injury to safety Coby White necessitated a move to safety. When Lewis left practice yesterday, the Bears moved UDFA Skyler Thomas in with the starters.
The Bears’ DB room is also missing safety Elijah Hicks and nickelback Kyler Gordon, who are on the PUP list, cornerback Dallis Flowers was placed on IR, K.C. Eziomume and Gervarrius Owens were waived/injured, corner Terrel Smith has been out, Jaylon Jones missed practice yesterday, and Tyrique Stevenson gutted through an injuiry yesterday after getting tangled up with wideout Luyther Burden III.
Speaking of Burden, Ian Rapoport reported today that Burden has a groin injury and “should miss a little bit of time.”
We’ll have a camp report about tofay’s practice later this afternoon.
If you missed anything about yesterday’s training camp practice, check out our content on 2nd Cith Gridieion for a recap.
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