Bears cut QB Austin Reed, 10 others

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

The second-year player was one of eight players the team waived before Monday’s practice at Halas Hall. The team also released three veterans: cornerback Tre Flowers, running back Royce Freeman and offensive lineman Joshua Miles.

The Bears put fifth-round rookie cornerback Zah Frazier, who missed all of training camp with what the team called personal reasons, on the reserved/non-football injury list. He was spotted at Halas Hall last week but coach Ben Johnson said Friday he was no closer to returning to practice.

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

He’s a candidate to return on the practice squad. The Bears can begin assembling that Wednesday, one day after Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline to trim the roster down to 53 players.

“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, quarterback Austin Reed, running back Ian Wheeler and tight end Joel Wilson.

Fumble response

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.”