The Chicago Bears’ receiver group is about to officially get thinner.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the team is expected to release WR Eddie Royal as soon as he is able to pass a physical.
@BradBiggs also reporting that the #Bears are expected to cut WR Eddie Royal as soon as he can pass a physical.
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) March 6, 2017
There’s no plainer way to say it: Royal just didn’t work out with the Bears, and this move comes as no surprise.
Originally brought in to be a slot receiver in 2015, partly due to his past relationship with Jay Cutler as his quarterback in Denver, Royal’s time with the Bears has simply been a story of unavailability.
As a member of the Bears, Royal has only played in 18 of 32 games, managing 62 catches for 524 yards and 3 TDs as well as one punt return TD in two seasons. He battled injuries throughout the 2015 season, then suffered a foot injury last season that forced him onto injured reserve.
Cutting him will save the Bears $5 million, which may be used to possibly re-sign soon-to-be free agent WR Alshon Jeffery to shore up the potentially inexperienced receiving corps.
Additionally, the Bears will gain further flexibility to pursue free agent defensive backs, such as the Houston Texans’ A.J. Bouye, or quarterbacks, such as Tampa Bay’s Mike Glennon or Brian Hoyer.
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