Chicago Bears Part Ways with Velus Jones Jr. and Khari Blasingame

The Chicago Bears have made significant roster moves, announcing the waiver of wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. and the release of fullback Khari Blasingame on Friday. Jones, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had been given multiple opportunities to prove himself in various roles but failed to find his footing with the team. He was expected to contribute as a wide receiver, return specialist, and even attempted to play running back during the preseason, but none of these roles panned out as hoped.

Jones’s underwhelming performance is particularly notable given his draft position. Despite his speed, he was unable to make a meaningful impact in any of the roles assigned to him, leading to his eventual waiver. This move is seen as a clearance of roster spots for players currently on injured reserve who are nearing their return to the active roster.

In addition to Jones, the Bears also released fullback Khari Blasingame. Blasingame’s time with the Bears ended as the team began utilizing offensive linemen in lead-blocking roles, a shift that reduced the need for a traditional fullback. His tenure marked a brief return of the fullback position to the Bears’ offense after it was dismissed by former coach Matt Nagy from 2019 to 2021.

The departures of Jones and Blasingame will create vacancies on the Bears’ roster, and the team is expected to fill these spots with players who are returning from injured reserve or through other roster adjustments. The moves reflect the Bears’ ongoing efforts to optimize their roster and improve team performance.