The Chicago Bears were not finished strengthening their defensive line.

A day after sending a sixth-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for defensive end Darrell Taylor, the Bears traded defensive tackle Chris Williams from the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.

The Bears and Browns are trading future draft picks as part of the deal. The Bears are sending the Browns a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, while the Browns are sending the Bears a 2025 seventh-round draft pick and Williams.

Williams, 26, previously played in Bears coach Matt Eberflus’ defensive system when both were with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 and 2021. Williams went undrafted by Wagner in 2020. He played three seasons in Indianapolis before spending last season on the practice squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns.

Williams has not played a regular NFL game with the Colts since 2022. He has appeared in 13 games with a total of six tackles and one QB hit.

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Chris Williams hits Green Bay Packers quarterback Michael Pratt while throwing during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
AP

“I was productive when I was with (Eberflus) and I felt growth every year with him,” Williams said Saturday at Halas Hall. “I know his scheme is to attack, be fast and utilize my skills. (That) is definitely what I feel comfortable with in that scheme.”

Williams comes to a Bears team looking for depth at the defensive tackle position. Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings are expected to start at the defensive tackle positions. The Bears may have been looking for a viable rotation player since backup Zacch Pickens was injured in practice this week.

Pickens missed several days of practice and missed the final game of the season Thursday night at Kansas City. An injury this late in training camp could mean he misses the season opener on Sept. 8. Eberflus said he doesn’t expect Pickens’ injury to be too serious.

“We don’t think it’s a long-term thing,” Eberflus said.

Bears in third place in the IR

The Bears placed three players on the injured list on Saturday. Players placed on the injured list before the 53-man roster is reduced (on Tuesday) will be out for the 2024 season.

Running back Ian Wheeler (knee), receiver Nsimba Webster (groin) and safety Douglas Coleman (neck) are all placed on the injured list. All three suffered injuries in Thursday’s final preseason game against Kansas City. Wheeler tore his ACL, while Coleman had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

The Bears will further reduce their 90-man roster to 53 players by the deadline on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Bears already released two players on Saturday, defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr. and tight end Tommy Sweeney.

Final exercise

The Bears held their last practice before the roster deadline on Tuesday. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson warmed up with the team but left practice early. Eberflus said it was for a personal reason.

Several other players were unable to participate in practice on Saturday: running back Roschon Johnson, safety Kevin Byard, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, long snapper Patrick Scales, defensive end Jacob Martin, lineman Theo Benedet, lineman Ryan Bates, tackle Larry Borom, receiver Collin Johnson, receiver Dante Pettis and defensive tackle Zacch Pickens.

Eberflus said he had no update on Borom, who was carted off the field in Kansas City on Thursday.