LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WGN) — It took the Chicago Bears all of 24 hours to bring back Scott Daly and Devin Duvernay, but with the moves came the loss of Austin Booker for an extended period of time.
Booker, whose four sacks this preseason led the NFL, was placed on injured reserve Thursday. The move to IR means he will be out a minimum of four weeks to start the year. His first chance to suit back up will be Week 6 at the Washington Commanders, since the Bears have a Week 5 bye this season.
Booker injured his knee while playing special teams in Chicago’s 38-0 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills.
Daly and Duvernay were released on Wednesday Afternoon as veterans with more than four seasons accrued of NFL playing time. With one roster spot opened up after Booker was placed on IR, Chicago released Carl Jones Jr. in a corresponding move to free up a second for the special teams tandem.
After a successful preseason where Booker looked to be a promising rotational piece along Dennis Allen’s defensive line in 2025, the Bears’ depth behind starters Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo continues to dwindle.
Dominique Robinson figures to be the first defensive end off the bench, though he left practice early on Tuesday and wasn’t seen on the field Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
Other options could include moving Tanoh Kpassagnon up from the practice squad for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, or leaning heavily into their depth within the interior of their defensive line.
5 additional roster moves
The Bears also signed three players to the practice squad on Thursday—tight end Nikola Kalinic, and defensive backs Dontae Manning and Gervarrius Owens.
Kalinic spent the 2025 preseason with the Atlanta Falcons and last played in the NFL in 2022 with the Indianapolis Colts, where he appeared in seven games on special teams.
Manning, a former Oregon Duck, also spent the 2025 preseason with the Falcons, where he recorded five tackles in limited action.
Owens spent training camp with the Minnesota Vikings before being waived as part of final roster cuts on Tuesday. He last played in the regular season for the New York Giants in 2023 as a rookie seventh-round draft pick out of Houston. He appeared in three games and made one assisted tackle.
Chicago also released long snapper Luke Elkin and defensive back Mekhi Garner.
The Bears take on the Vikings on Monday Night Football, Sept. 8, at Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT.