The Chicago Bears are adding a new long snapper to their practice squad as part of several roster changes at the beginning of their bye week in Week 7.
As per the team’s transaction report from October 15, they have signed long snapper Jake McQuaide and defensive lineman Jamree Kromah to their 16-man practice squad, while releasing former 2023 draft pick Travis Bell in the process.
McQuaide could take over as the long snapper when the Bears resume play in Week 8, following a knee injury to their starter, Scott Daly, during their 35-16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Daly had been stepping in for veteran starter Patrick Scales, who was placed on injured reserve after training camp.
At 36 years old, McQuaide has extensive experience in the NFL, having played 160 games for the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles over his first decade in the league, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017. He also spent 21 games with the Dallas Cowboys after joining them in 2021.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time McQuaide has been signed as an injury replacement for Daly. The Detroit Lions made a similar move during the 2023 season, adding McQuaide to their practice squad when Daly was injured in November and later promoting him to their 53-man roster, where he played in nine games.
How Soon Could Bears Get Patrick Scales Back on Field?
The Bears’ decision to sign McQuaide to their practice squad suggests that Scott Daly might miss time due to his knee injury. However, if Patrick Scales can return to the field before their next game on October 27, they may not need McQuaide.
Scales has been recovering from a back injury he sustained in early August and was placed on injured reserve on August 28 after the initial 53-man roster cuts. According to Brad Biggs from The Chicago Tribune, Scales underwent minor back surgery to address a disk issue, with hopes for a recovery period of about six weeks.
Now, nearly seven weeks later, the Bears have yet to designate Scales for a return from injured reserve, but he is eligible to be activated once he’s healthy. The team’s bye week in Week 7 provides extra time to evaluate Scales’ status and decide on McQuaide’s necessity.
For the moment, McQuaide steps in as the long snapper, but keep an eye on Scales’ potential return ahead of the Week 8 matchup against Washington.
Travis Bell’s Return to Bears Cut Short After 3 Weeks
On October 15, the Bears made two changes to their practice squad regarding their defensive line, releasing Travis Bell—who was their seventh-round pick in 2023—and re-signing rookie Jamree Kromah.
Bell appeared to be getting another chance with the Bears after being re-signed to the practice squad on September 26. He had previously spent time on Chicago’s practice squad before being picked up by the Atlanta Falcons last November, where he played in two games before being released again.
However, Bell didn’t get to play for the Bears upon his return, as the team opted to bring in veteran defensive tackle Byron Cowart to bolster their defensive line, which has been without Zacch Pickens since Week 2. Bell now faces free agency again, possibly leaving Chicago for good.
Kromah originally joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft and spent the offseason and training camp with the team. Although he was waived before the final cuts, he was later re-signed to the practice squad. However, the New England Patriots claimed him for their active roster in September.
The Patriots kept Kromah on their 53-man roster for about three weeks, but he did not see any game action before being released on October 8.
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