Bears Roster Tracker: Cutting Artavis Pierce May Say David Montgomery is Healthy

Tracking the Bears as their opening-day roster forms to 53 men through cuts, acquisitions and trades.

Two of the cuts by the Bears Saturday could say something about the Bears' injury status for the season opener with the Detroit Lions.

The Bears have cut running back Artavis Pierce and also kicker Cairo Santos.

Both players appear destined to be brought back for the expanded practice squad, Pierce because there simply aren't enough running backs at Halas Hall and Santos because coach Matt Nagy said last week he wanted an extra kicker available.

In the past a player of Santos' experience couldn't go onto the practice squad but the rules have changed this year in the COVID-19 era, and up to six veterans can be on the practice squad.

Nagy had said he was very comfortable with Santos as kicker. Santos immediately can look for another team as a kicker with more than four years in the league.

The fact the Bears would let Santos be available to other teams, and that Pierce has been cut and is headed for the practice squad, suggests both running back David Montgomery and kicker Eddy Pineiro could be available for the game.

The original report on David Montgomery by NFL.com was a 2-to-4-week injury due to his groin strain, which would have put Week 1 in jeopardy. However, if Montgomery healed faster than expected, it's possible he'd be available and the Bears could get by with Pierce on the practice squad.

Pineiro had a groin injury of unknown severity and hadn't been kicking at practices but it's possible he also has healed enough to be trusted with kicking duties again if they're willing to risk losing Santos.

By letting go of cornerback Kevin Toliver II, the Bears more or less confirmed rookie Jaylon Johnson is the winner at right cornerback despite not practicing much until the final week. 

Outside linebacker Isaiah Irving was waived injured after three years in Chicago and the Bears kept James Vaughters. They also cut Khalil Mack's brother Ledarius, although it wouldn't be a surprise if he returned to the practice squad. 

One fan favorite from last year, tight end Jesper Horsted, was also cut.

Announced Waived Injured

OLB Isaiah Irving

Announced Bears Released

QB Tyler Bray.

Announced Bears Cut

CB Kevin Toliver II, LB Rashad Smith, WR Rodney Adams, CB Xavier Crawford, WR Reggie Davis, TE Jesper Horsted, OLB Ledarius Mack, T Lachavious Simmons.   

Saturday 2:15 P.M. — WR Thomas Ives has been told he's released, K Cairo Santos is being released, RB Artavis Pierce, DE Abdullah Anderson, CB Stephen Denmark, DE LaCale London, OL Dieter Eiselen, C Sam Mustipher, T Badara Traore 

Saturday A.M.— DL Trevon McSwain will be cut (Brad Biggs)

Thursday—The Bears announced ILB Keandre Jones, WR Alex Wesley, WR Ahmad Wagner, RB Napoleon Maxwell, G/C Corey Levin and DE Lee Autry have been cut. Levin was with the 53-man roster throughout December last year. The rest had signed as free agents in the offseason. 

Updated Projected Chicago Bears Depth Chart (54*)

Quarterbacks (2)

1. Mitchell Trubisky, 2. Nick Foles

Running Backs (4)

1. David Montgomery, 2. Tarik Cohen, 3. Ryan Nall, 4. Cordarrelle Patterson 

Wide Receivers (6)

1. Allen Robinson II, 2. Javon Wims

1. Anthony Miller, 2. Riley Ridley

1. Ted Ginn Jr., 2. Darnell Mooney

Tight Ends (5)

Y: 1. Cole Kmet, 2. Demetrius Harris, 3. J.P. Holtz

U: 1. Jimmy Graham, 2. Eric Saubert

Offensive Linemen (9)

LT: 1. Charles Leno Jr., 2. Jason Spriggs

LG: 1. James Daniels, 2. Arlington Hambright 

C: 1. Cody Whitehair 

RG: 1. Germain Ifedi, 2. Rashaad Coward

RT: 1. Bobby Massie,  2. Alex Bars

Defensive Line (5)

LDE: 1. Akiem Hicks

NT: 1. Bilal Nichols, 2. John Jenkins

RDE: 1. Roy Robertson-Harris, 2. Brent Urban 

Linebackers (9)

OLB: 1. Khalil Mack, 2. Trevis Gipson 

ILB: 1. Roquan Smith, 2. Joel Iyiegbuniwe 

ILB: 1. Danny Trevathan, 2. Josh Woods

OLB: 1. Robert Quinn, 2. Barkevious Mingo, 3. James Vaughters

Defensive Backs (11)

LCB: 1. Kyle Fuller, 2. Sherrick McManis

S: 1. Eddie Jackson, 2. DeAndre Houston-Carson, 3. Marqui Christian*

S: 1. Deon Bush, 2. Tashaun Gipson

RCB: 1. Jaylon Johnson, 2. Kindle Vildor

NCB: 1. Buster Skrine, 2. Duke Shelley

Specialists (3)

K: 1. Eddy Pineiro 

P: 1. Pat O'Donnell

LS: 1. Patrick Scales

*Suspended for 2 games, does not count against roster total.

———

PR: 1. Cohen

KR: 1. Patterson

Reserve Lists

Injured Reserve: CB Michael Joseph, CB Artie Burns, TE Darion Clark

Non-Football Injury List: CB Tre Roberson

Opt Out: NT Eddie Goldman, S Jordan Lucas

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven