With the Chicago Bears making moves to finalize their 53-man roster ahead of the deadline on Sunday, they made a trade that sent defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick.
Dexter entered the year playing on the final year of his rookie contract, and with the emergence of rookie Jordan Van Den Berg, the defensive tackle was shipped to Atlanta while Chicago looks to solidify their defensive secondary.
Phillips was a fourth round pick of the Falcons in 2023, but he's played in a limited role as he has just one career interception over his first three seasons. Following the news of the trade, the new Bears cornerback took to social media to share his reaction to the news and
expressed his excitement for his new team.
Thank you Atlanta ❤️ Forever grateful for my time with the Falcons organization, my teammates, coaches, and the incredible fan base. Thank you for embracing me and supporting me every step of the way. Excited for this next chapter and ready to get to work in Chicago 🐻⬇️
— Clark Phillips lll (@ClarkPhillips21) August 30, 2026
"Thank you Atlanta," wrote Phillips. "Forever grateful for my time with the Falcons organization, my teammates, coaches, and the incredible fan base. Thank you for embracing me and supporting me every step of the way. Excited for this next chapter and ready to get to work in Chicago (Bear Down)."
The trade helps reinforce Chicago's secondary, which is still one of the biggest question marks as they cut down the roster, due to injuries and inconsistent play.
Earlier in the day the Bears released Terell Smith, a former fifth round pick, meaning an opportunity is open to Phillips, and depending on how the entire position groups shapes out, it'll be interesting to see if he can get on the field for the team this year.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: New Bears CB Clark Phillips sounds off on trade to Chicago
