Roster Move: Bears add former Patriots cornerback |
Lost in the shuffle of a Bears win last week against the Los Angeles Rams was the fact that they are once again down another player on the defensive side of the ball. This time, it is second-year man Terrell Smith who went down with an injury against the Indianapolis Colts in week three.
While Smith isn't an every-down player who is counted on to make plays, he is still a depth piece that Ryan Poles added to this roster. Every player is going to have a role at some point this season. Knowing that Smith was not only going to be out for week four but potentially longer, Poles continued to scour the free agent market to look for potential depth pieces. It does appear that he may have found another one, as former New England Patriot Ameer Speed has signed with the Bears practice squad while Rookie Ro Torrence was released as the corresponding move. Speed may not be a household name to most, but he was a sixth-round pick by the Patriots and went on to have some success with that organization. Speed had a great camp during his rookie season, and that alone helped him make the opening-week roster while also seeing plenty of time on the field. He went on to appear in 13 games as a rookie, but only five came with the Patriots before the final eight came with the Indianapolis Colts. During those eight games, Speed saw action on 240 snaps, but only 13 came on the defensive side, while the rest came on special teams. You can never have enough special teams players as that is the best way to leave a lasting impression on any organization. Smith suffered a hip injury, which is considered week to week, but there is no distinct picture of when he may be ready to return to the field. Knowing that Speed will be given an opportunity to earn a roster spot in practice, and the Bears will have him as an option for future depth purposes. Adding Speed is just another one of Poles's under-the-radar moves over the past week. Stephen Carlson was also promoted to the 53-man roster ahead of the Rams game, with Teagan Quitoriano taking his place on the practice squad. Although Speed hasn't done much at the NFL level apart from special teams, there is a lot to like about him, and that all starts with his 6-3, 211-pound frame. In a world where receivers are getting bigger, stronger, and faster, teams need a CB capable of matching up with some of those guys. While the Bears have plenty of size at the cornerback position, it's never a bad idea to add even more size for depth, as you never know when you will need another option. Speed began his college career at the University of Georgia, where he spent four seasons and saw little action on the field. Then came the 2022 season, when he elected to use his final year of eligibility and transferred out of Georgia to join Mel Tucker and the Michigan State Spartans. Sometimes, all it takes for a player to get an opportunity is a change of scenery, and that is what Speed needed as he finally saw the action he was looking for. After totaling just 18 tackles in 43 games with Georgia, Speed was much more effective with the Spartans, as he came away with 62 tackles in 12 games, including 26 solo tackles. To go with that came his first tackle for a loss in his career while also defending five passes after having only one the previous four years. It remains to be seen whether Speed gets an opportunity with this organization, but he has shown the ability to perform at a good enough level to earn a roster spot. Now, it is up to him to prove his worth on the practice squad.
