Bears Sign Ex-Packers Starting OL After Move With Braxton Jones
According to the team’s official transaction wire, the Bears signed former Packers guard Royce Newman — a 2021 fourth-round pick — to their practice squad on Wednesday in a series of roster moves that added players both to the 53-man roster and the reserves.
Newman played 52 games at primarily right guard over his three seasons in Green Bay, making 16 starts and playing on a team-high 1,084 offensive snaps as a rookie in 2021. He also appeared in one game in 2024 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though he played an emergency backup role and only saw the field for three total offensive snaps.
The Bears placed Jones, one of their most experienced offensive linemen, on the injured reserve list with a knee injury last Saturday before taking on the Baltimore Ravens. He will miss a minimum of three more games, putting him out until at least late November.
While Newman is a guard, not a tackle, the Bears may prefer having his experience on hand as they figure out how best to adjust to Jones’ absence. They may also simply want more time to evaluate the 28-year-old and whether he can add anything to their ranks.
The Bears (4-3) will next play the Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Royce Newman Made 24 Starts at Guard for Packers
Newman is an intriguing addition for the Bears’ practice squad, both because of his starting experience and his time spent with their biggest rivals in the NFC North.
The Packers tossed Newman into the fire during his rookie season. David Bakhtiari‘s ACL injury had forced them to kick out left guard Elgton Jenkins to left tackle, leaving Jon Runyan Jr., Lucas Patrick and Newman to contend for the two starting guard jobs. Ultimately, Newman won out over Patrick on the right side and started on Day 1.
While Newman started 16 games for the Packers in 2021, though, he had his fair share of struggles. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed six sacks, five quarterback hits and 32 total pressures as a pass-blocker trying to keep veteran Aaron Rodgers upright. He played better as a run-blocker, but he lacked the consistency of a top performer.
Even still, Newman seemed to hold some promise for the Packers entering 2022, but his poor performance eventually started to chip away at his playing time. He began his second season as the Packers’ starting right guard again, but they benched him after just six starts. His snap count dropped to 451 in 2022 and further to 183 in 2023.
By the end of 2024’s camp, the Packers had seen enough, putting him on waivers.
Whether the Bears can get more out of Newman remains to be seen. At the very least, though, he should provide them with another layer of depth for the immediate future.
Bears Also Signed Ex-Packers DE Jonathan Garvin
Newman is not the only ex-Packer who joined the Bears’ practice squad this week.
The Bears also signed former Packers pass rusher Jonathan Garvin to their practice squad on Wednesday, coincidentally giving him the roster spot that another former Packer (Jonathan Ford) vacated when he signed to the Bears’ active roster last week. The Bears had hosted Garvin, a 2020 seventh-rounder, for a tryout earlier this week.
Garvin tallied 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits during his three seasons with the Packers from 2020 to 2022, playing a total of 673 defensive snaps off the edge.
The Bears needed more defensive end depth after losing second-round rookie Shemar Turner and Dominique Robinson to injuries in Week 8’s loss to the Ravens. Robinson will expectedly miss a few weeks with a high-ankle sprain, while Turner tore his ACL and is done for the rest of the season, having already landed on the injured reserve list.
The Bears also signed veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to their active roster to help bolster their battered secondary, which played last week without its top three corners.
Colts Rookie Benched for Disciplinary Violation — Hasn’t Played a Single Snap After Shane Steichen’s Tough Message on Standards
The Indianapolis Colts’ seventh-round rookie wide receiver has yet to see the field this season — and head coach Shane Steichen just made it clear why.
Despite impressing during offseason workouts with his speed and versatility, the young wideout has remained on the practice squad since Week 1, with Steichen citing discipline and execution as the main reasons behind the decision.
“HE'S GOT THE TALENT, NO QUESTION. BUT IN INDIANAPOLIS, EXECUTION IS EVERYTHING. HE MISSED READS, BLEW ASSIGNMENTS, AND DIDN'T MASTER THE DETAILS. AROUND HERE, YOU DON'T EARN SNAPS WITH POTENTIAL — YOU EARN THEM BY PLAYING THE COLTS WAY.”
The rookie in question is Junior Bergen, a seventh-round pick (No. 252 overall) from Montana, who signed a four-year rookie contract shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft. Bergen flashed promise as a slot receiver and return specialist during training camp, drawing early comparisons to former Colts gadget players known for their versatility and intelligence.
However, insiders from the team’s practice sessions revealed that Bergen struggled to learn route progressions, execute assignments precisely, and adjust to the pace and complexity of Steichen’s offense — a system renowned for demanding timing, precision, and mental sharpness.
The Colts waived Bergen on August 26, 2025, only to re-sign him to the practice squad the following day — a move Steichen described as part of the development process rather than a punishment.
“He’s learning,” Steichen said. “But at this level, talent isn’t enough. You have to prove every day that you understand your job and that your teammates can trust you to execute it.”
Bergen has since worked closely with receivers coach Reggie Wayne, focusing on improving his route discipline and timing. Despite being benched from active play, team sources say the 23-year-old has shown steady progress and remains a long-term project for the Colts’ offense.
Still, Steichen’s message was unmistakable: in Indianapolis, consistency and preparation are non-negotiable. “This organization is built on accountability,” he said. “Every player here — whether it’s a Pro Bowler or a rookie — is expected to uphold that standard. Until you do, you sit.”
For Junior Bergen, the lesson is clear. The path back to the field won’t come from talent alone — it will come from mastering the details and earning the right to play the
