The Chicago Bears did not claim any players off the waivers list on Wednesday.

The team finalized its initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, but the roster is never complete. NFL teams had until 11 a.m. Wednesday to file waivers for players other teams placed on waivers Tuesday.

However, the Bears didn’t see any players worth signing. That’s a stark contrast from two years ago, when the team signed six players released by other teams. That’s a testament to how far the Bears’ roster has come in the last two years. In 2022, half a dozen players were released by other teams who seemed like they would be a boost for the Bears.

This is no longer the case.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles said months ago that assembling Chicago’s 53-man roster would be difficult, and his prediction was correct. The Bears are much stronger than Poles’ first team in 2022, which finished with the NFL’s worst record at 3-14.

Although the Bears didn’t claim any players off waivers, they did lose a player they likely wanted on their practice squad. Tight end Brenden Bates from Kentucky was signed by the Bears as an undrafted rookie this spring. Bates didn’t make the 53-man roster on Tuesday. A day later, the New York Jets claimed Bates off waivers.

The Bears kept only three players at the tight end position: Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis. Bates is primarily a blocking tight end, a job Lewis will likely take over in 2024.

Bears begin assembling their practice team:

Chicago Bears quarterback Austin Reed (16) warms up before the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
AP

After players came off the waivers list on Wednesday, NFL teams began building their practice squads. Teams can keep an additional 16 players on the practice squad, plus one more if they sign a player from the NFL’s international program.

According to multiple reports, the Bears will sign undrafted rookie quarterback Austin Reed and veteran long snapper Scott Daly to their practice squad.

Reed spent the offseason with the Bears and played a central role in HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this month. He was the fourth quarterback during training camp.

Daly grew up in Downers Grove and spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Lions. He has appeared in 42 games with the Lions. Daly, 30, went to Downers Grove South and played college football at Notre Dame. He was a rookie tryout with the Bears in 2017 but did not get a contract. He played in both the XFL and the Alliance of American Football before signing with the Lions in 2021.

Bears long snapper Patrick Scales is expected to miss at least a month with a back injury. Daly will likely be called up to the active roster before the season opener on Sept. 8 against the Tennessee Titans.

Daly’s signing has not yet been announced by the team, but 14 other new additions to the practice squad are now official.

In addition to Reed, the Bears signed the following players to the practice squad: linebacker Micah Baskerville, guard Theo Benedet, tight end Stephen Carlson, defensive tackle Byron Cowart, offensive tackle Jake Curhan, receiver Collin Johnson, safety Quindell Johnson, linebacker Carl Jones, defensive end Jamree Kromah, defensive tackle Dashaun Mallory, safety Tarvarius Moore, cornerback Reddy Steward and cornerback Ro Torrence.

Bears re-sign Blasingame:

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Bears officially placed long snapper Scales on the injured list. Players on the injured list must miss at least four games before they can be activated again.

In a corresponding move, the Bears have re-signed fullback Khari Blasingame.