Bears cut QB Austin Reed, 10 others

The Bears’ latest round of cuts claimed fourth-string quarterback Austin Reed.

The Bears’ latest round of cuts claimed fourth-string quarterback Austin Reed and 10 others. Three were released — cornerback Tre Flowers, running back Royce Freeman and offensive lineman Joshua Miles — and eight were waived.

Reed didn’t play in the team’s final preseason game despite veteran Case Keenum, the third-stringer, being out the last two weeks because of a leg injury. He returned to practice Monday.

Reed finished the preseason 11-for-17 for 107 yards and an 82.2 passer rating.

“He’s in a situation that was challenging,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. “We brought in a veteran quarterback. There’s really three established guys in that room and he’s kind of had to be in there as the fourth. He didn’t have a ton of reps throughout camp, and yet when Case is down and he’s able to step in. Every clip that you watch of us doing a walkthrough or Caleb taking a rep, in the background is Austin getting the mental rep.”

The Bears also cut safety Millard Bradford, defensive lineman Xavier Carlton, safety Alex Cook, linebacker Power Echols, cornerback Kaleb Hayes, running back Ian Wheeler and tight end Joel Wilson.

The Bears also cut safety Millard Bradford, defensive lineman Xavier Carlton, safety Alex Cook, linebacker Power Echols, cornerback Kaleb Hayes, quarterback Austin Reed, running back Ian Wheeler and tight end Joel Wilson.

Late snap

Doyle said the Bears’ fumble on the first play of the game was a result of the “snap timing being late.” Because the ball was put in Caleb Williams’ hands late, he hurried to spin around and hand the ball off to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus on a fly sweep and fumbled. Williams recovered the ball.

“That’s something that has to get cleaned up with the ball-handling and the quarterback,” he said. “Any time we’re going to be ball-handling with a receiver that’s something we want to make sure it gets off. Obviously, disappointing.”