The Chicago Bears lost one of their young talents to another team on Wednesday.
Then again, the Bears didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. As Chicago reviewed its depth chart at tight end, there wasn’t enough room to keep rookie Brenden Bates, despite Bates showcasing during preseason and training camp that he’s got a world of potential.
The six-foot-five, 24-year-old tight end was released by the Bears this week, but he didn’t remain unclaimed for long, according to a new report on Wednesday from Sports Mockery’s Erik Lambert.
“Every player the team had released made it through (waiver wire) except one,” Lambert said. “Tight end Brenden Bates had been snatched by the New York Jets.”
“This is a sad turn of events. Bates signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky. He went on to have a great preseason, catching four passes for 86 yards and making four special teams tackles. Under normal conditions, he would’ve made the roster. However, the Bears already had Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and Marcedes Lewis in place. They weren’t willing to carry four tight ends.”
“No doubt they hoped to sneak Bates onto the practice squad. New York spoiled that. Aaron Rodgers keeps finding ways to haunt them.”
With the way that Kmet and Everett can produce, it's doubtful that Chicago will regret having to release Bates anytime soon, but you never know. NFL injuries are impossible to predict (yet always around the corner), as is the true ceiling of undrafted talent. At the end of the day, the Bears simply didn’t have room for four tight ends; such is the reality of roster construction.
Bates could turn into an impact player sooner rather than later. It will certainly help to work with a Hall of Fame quarterback.
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