The Chicago Bears have added a new offensive lineman to the mix in a slew of roster moves following the 2025 NFL trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the team’s official transaction wire, the Bears placed guard/center Ricky Stromberg on the practice-squad injured reserve list Tuesday and signed former New Orleans Saints second-year guard Kyle Hergel to take his place on the 16-man roster.
The Bears also sent starting defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo to injured reserve Tuesday after he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 9’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals, clearing room for trade acquisition and defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
Additionally, Bears general manager Ryan Poles indicated they will activate linebacker and special teams contributor Amen Ogbongbemiga off injured reserve on Wednesday. He spent the past two weeks as a full participant in practice after the team originally designated him for return on October 16, seemingly clear of his preseason knee injury.
The Bears have not yet announced Ogbongbemiga’s activation, but they will need to make a corresponding roster deduction to clear space for him on their 53-man roster. His 21-day activation window will not officially close until Thursday, though.
Kyle Hergel Played Limited Snaps for Saints in 2024
Hergel won’t have a clear path to playing time as a member of the Bears’ practice squad, but he does bring at least some regular-season playing experience with him to Chicago.
Before reaching the NFL, Hergel impressed as a fifth-year senior at Boston College in 2023, allowing two QB hits and two hurries but zero sacks on 868 snaps at left guard. While his strong season didn’t get him selected in the 2024 NFL draft, it did earn him attention in Canada, which led to him being selected at No. 3 overall in the CFL draft.
Ultimately, Hergel signed a UDFA contract with the Saints and earned a spot on their practice squad coming out of 2024’s training camp. He then earned multiple elevation opportunities throughout the season before joining the active roster in late December.
While the Saints confined Hergel to a special teams role in seven of his eight games, he did play 45 snaps as their emergency fill-in at left guard in Week 7’s loss to the Denver Broncos, allowing two pressures but zero sacks in his lone offensive performance.
Perhaps that gives the Bears something to build on.
T.J. Edwards Lands on Injury Report Again in Week 10
Ogbongbemiga’s impending activation from IR is good news for the Bears after they added starting linebacker T.J. Edwards back to their injury report on Wednesday.
Edwards was listed as a limited participant due to hand and hamstring injuries for Wednesday’s first practice ahead of Week 10’s matchup with the New York Giants. He spent the first six weeks of the season battling a hamstring injury, missing three games.
Fortunately, the Bears will have seven linebackers on their 53-man roster when they add back Ogbongbemiga unless they cut one of them — perhaps Carl Jones Jr., their most recent addition at the position — when they officially activate him. While the Bears would prefer to have Edwards available, they have no shortage of backup options.
The Bears (5-3) will kick off against the Giants (2-7) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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