The Chicago Bears are making some roster changes during their Week 7 bye, including signing a new long snapper to the practice squad. On October 15, the Bears added long snapper Jake McQuaide and defensive lineman Jamree Kromah to their 16-man practice squad, while releasing 2023 draft pick Travis Bell.
McQuaide could step in as the long snapper for Week 8 after Scott Daly, who started the first six games, suffered a knee injury in the Bears’ 35-16 win over the Jaguars in London. Daly had been filling in for Patrick Scales, who was placed on injured reserve after training camp.
At 36, McQuaide brings plenty of experience, having played 160 games over 10 seasons with the Rams and earning Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017. He also played 21 games for the Cowboys after signing with them in 2021. This isn’t McQuaide’s first time replacing Daly—he previously joined the Lions in 2023 when Daly was injured, eventually playing in nine games for Detroit.
How Soon Could Bears Get Patrick Scales Back on Field?
The Bears’ decision to sign Jake McQuaide to their practice squad suggests Scott Daly’s knee injury could sideline him, but there remains a chance McQuaide won’t be needed if Patrick Scales returns in time for their next game on October 27.
Scales, who suffered a back injury in August and was placed on injured reserve after roster cuts, underwent minor back surgery to fix a disk issue. The initial hope was that his recovery would take about six weeks, according to Brad Biggs of *The Chicago Tribune*.
Although nearly seven weeks have passed, the Bears have not yet activated Scales from injured reserve, though he is eligible to return whenever he’s fully healthy. With a bye week in Week 7, the team has extra time to evaluate Scales’ status and decide if McQuaide will be needed for Week 8 against Washington. For now, McQuaide is on standby as the Bears’ potential long snapper, but Scales’ return remains a possibility.
Travis Bell’s Return to Bears Cut Short After 3 Weeks
The Bears made additional adjustments to their practice squad on October 15, focusing on the defensive line. They released 2023 seventh-round pick Travis Bell and re-signed rookie Jamree Kromah.
Bell, who had rejoined the Bears’ practice squad on September 26, was looking for a second opportunity with the team. During his rookie season, he had a brief stint on Chicago’s practice squad before being claimed by the Atlanta Falcons, where he played two games before being released. However, Bell didn’t see any playing time in his return to Chicago, as the Bears opted for veteran Byron Cowart to fill in on the defensive line, particularly with Zacch Pickens sidelined since Week 2. Now, Bell is back in free agency and may be leaving Chicago for good.
Kromah, an undrafted rookie from the 2024 NFL Draft, originally signed with the Bears in the spring and was with the team through the offseason and training camp. After being waived at the final roster cut deadline, Kromah rejoined the practice squad, but the New England Patriots signed him to their 53-man roster in September. Despite spending about three weeks on the Patriots’ roster, he didn’t appear in any games and was released on October 8, leading to his return to Chicago.
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