The Chicago Bears are weighing the possibility of signing a former Green Bay Packers pass rusher to their roster amid their ongoing bye week.
According to the NFL’s transaction wire, the Bears hosted former Packers defensive end Jonathan Garvin on Tuesday for a roster workout along with four other free agents.
Garvin, a 2020 seventh-round pick, spent his first three seasons with the Packers, but they released him early in his fourth NFL training camp in favor of other pass rushers. He has also spent time with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions, winning a league title with the team in 2024 before earning another NFL look from the San Francisco 49ers.
The Bears‘ workout group on Tuesday also included rookie defensive tackle Philip Blidi, guard Kyle Hergel and defensive ends Jayden Peevy and Isaiah Thomas, the latter of whom spent time with the Detroit Lions as a seventh-round pick for them in 2022.
The Bears (2-2) would need to make a corresponding cut to sign one of their workout players to their 53-man roster, but they have a spot open on their practice squad amid their bye. They won’t play again until October 13’s game against Washington (2-2).
Jonathan Garvin Played 38 Games With Packers
Of the five players who auditioned for a spot on the Bears‘ roster on Tuesday, Garvin is the most intriguing — both because of his ties to the Packers and his overall experience.
Garvin played 38 career games in his three seasons with the Packers, recording 32 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, seven quarterback hits and two pass deflections across his 673 career defensive snaps. He also made one start for the Packers in 2021.
While Garvin hasn’t taken a regular-season NFL snap since 2022, he was productive in his lone season at the UFL level. He tallied 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 10 regular-season games with the Stallions, then added another nine tackles and two sacks in the postseason, securing one of his sacks in their 2024 championship game.
The Bears have taken chances on former Packers drafted defensive linemen in the past. They currently have another one of them, 2022 seventh-round pick Jonathan Ford, on their practice squad. They also elevated him during Week 4’s win over Las Vegas.
If Garvin impresses them, perhaps he will earn his shot with the Bears, too.
Will Bears Defense Look Healthier After Bye Week?
The Bears are hoping their defense will look healthier when they make it to the other side of their bye week. In Week 4’s game against the Raiders, they were without four of their primary defensive starters, including All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson — who is on injured reserve with a groin injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season.
When it comes to the other injured defensive starters, though, the Bears could emerge from their bye week with better availability for Week 6’s game with the Commanders.
Slot cornerback Kyler Gordon seemed to have a chance of making his 2025 season debut for the Bears against the Raiders on Sunday, returning to practice in a limited capacity for Friday’s walkthrough and earning a questionable designation on the injury report. While the Bears ultimately shut him down before kickoff, the fact that he even had a chance to play against the Raiders bodes well for him returning in two weeks.
The Bears also have linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) nursing injuries during their bye week. The team ruled out both players in their final injury report last Friday, but it is unclear what the expectations are for either one of them in terms of how soon they could return to the field.
The Bears could also return second-year defensive end Austin Booker from injured reserve next week. He is eligible to have his practice window opened after sitting out the minimum-required four games and could return in time to play in Week 6 against the Commanders — if the Bears feel he has progressed enough in his recovery from injury.
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