During the waiver period, the Bears did not make outside additions to their 53-man roster beyond the previous acquisitions from waivers last year. They did bring back defensive tackle James Lynch, a veteran who had been released a day earlier, with a corresponding move likely involving safety Coby Bryant being placed on injured reserve. One notable change on the waiver wire was rookie offensive tackle Mason Murphy, who was claimed by the New Orleans Saints. Murphy appeared sparingly in the preseason and was not part of the team’s long-term plans, so the impact of that move was limited.
The more noteworthy development today occurred on the practice squad, where the Bears added offensive tackle Christian Jones after he was waived by the Arizona Cardinals. Jones cleared waivers and chose to sign with Chicago’s practice squad rather than returning to Arizona.
What to know about Christian Jones
Jones stands 6-6 and weighs 321 pounds. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. In three seasons with the Cardinals, he appeared in four games and started one game during his rookie year in 2024. In the most recent preseason, he logged 65 snaps, yielding four pressures and one sack. His NFL résumé so far mirrors the arc of Kiran Amegadjie, with only a single regular-season start and multiple stints on injured reserve across two seasons. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has shown interest in Jones, indicating potential in him that surpassed what the team saw from Amegadjie in recent years.
Amegadjie, originally a third-round selection, went unclaimed off waivers and joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad, ending his tenure with the Bears. Jedrick Wills Jr., acquired by Chicago on a one-year deal earlier, was released with an injury settlement.
Jones now represents the Bears’ new developmental tackle, receiving an opportunity to showcase his abilities under the new coaching staff. The team will have the next year to evaluate his potential and growth.
The rest of Chicago’s tackle situation appears to be shaping up similarly to last season. Braxton Jones is positioned as the presumed starter at left tackle for the fifth consecutive year. Darnell Wright, recently extended, remains the primary right tackle. Theo Benedet handles the swing tackle duties and jumbo tight end responsibilities, while Ozzy Trapilo is a candidate to compete for the left tackle role once he’s fully ready.
The organization can also explore the development path for Christian Jones on the practice squad as they move forward, continuing to evaluate the long-term fit at the tackle position.
