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Bears Sign Second-Rounder Away from Vikings

Cornerback Joejuan Williams added to Bears roster after rash of injuries in secondary.
Gene Chamberlain|
Bears Sign Second-Rounder Away from Vikings
Bears Sign Second-Rounder Away from Vikings

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Chicago Bears

With injuries decimating their secondary, the Bears turned toward a division rival for help.

The Bears on Wednesday signed Patriots 2019 second-round pick Joejuan Williams off of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.

The secondary is dealing with injuries to cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (hamstring), Tyrique Stevenson (neck), Kyler Gordon (hand) and Josh Blackwell (hamstring), and also a foot injury to safety Eddie Jackson. So any extra help they bring in can't hurt.

Williams, who is 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, had one start and 36 games played from 2019-21 with the Patriots before leaving as a free agent after 2022. The former Vanderbilt player spent the entire 2022 season on injured reserve in New England with a shoulder injury and was signed by the Vikings as a free agent in April 2023, before being waived and brought back to their practice squad.

TROUBLE IN MILE HIGH

Williams, 25, made 44 tackles and had eight pass break-ups with the Patriots. His passer rating against when targeted, according to Sportradar, is 83.8. Williams never had a passer rating against higher than 96.8 or a completions percentage against higher than 55.6% in his three Patriots seasons. Sportradar also says he never missed tackle with New England.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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