The Chicago Bears are adding a new long snapper to their practice squad as part of several roster adjustments during their bye week in Week 7.
As noted in the team’s transaction report from October 15, the Bears 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.
McQuaide may step in as the long snapper when the Bears return to play in Week 8 after Scott Daly, the starter for the first six games, suffered a knee injury during their 35-16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Daly had been filling in for longtime starter Patrick Scales, who was placed on injured reserve after training camp.
At 36 years old, McQuaide brings extensive experience, having played 160 games for the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles during his first decade in the NFL. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017 and played 21 games for the Dallas Cowboys after joining them in 2021.
Interestingly, this is not McQuaide’s first stint as an injury replacement for Daly. The Detroit Lions similarly signed him during the 2023 season when Daly was injured in November, eventually promoting him to their 53-man roster, where he appeared in nine games.
The signing of McQuaide suggests that Daly may be sidelined for some time, although there’s still hope that Scales could return before the Bears’ next game on October 27.
Scales has been recovering from a back injury sustained in early August, landing on injured reserve after the Bears made their initial roster cuts. Reports indicate he underwent minor back surgery to address a disk issue, with expectations of a six-week recovery. As nearly seven weeks have passed without him being designated to return, the Bears will utilize their bye week in Week 7 to reassess Scales’ condition and determine McQuaide’s necessity.
For now, McQuaide will take over long snapping duties, but keep an eye on Scales, as he may be able to return before the Week 8 matchup against Washington.
In addition to these changes, the Bears made adjustments to their defensive line on October 15, releasing Bell, their seventh-round pick from 2023, and re-signing rookie Kromah.
Bell had been given another chance with the Bears after being re-signed to the practice squad on September 26, having spent time on their practice squad during his rookie season. However, he was previously poached by the Atlanta Falcons, who signed him to their 53-man roster last November before releasing him after two games.
Unfortunately, Bell didn’t get a chance to play for the Bears during his latest stint, as the team opted for veteran defensive tackle Byron Cowart to reinforce their line, which has been missing Zacch Pickens since Week 2. Now, Bell finds himself back in free agency, potentially leaving Chicago for good.
Kromah initially joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL Draft, spending the offseason and training camp with the team. Although he was waived during final cuts, he was re-signed to the practice squad before being claimed by the New England Patriots. The Patriots kept him on their roster for about three weeks without giving him any game time before releasing him on October 8.
