The Chicago Bears are re-signing one of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ close friends ahead of their Week 3 game in Indianapolis.
As noted in the team’s transaction wire on September 19, the Bears added former USC wide receiver John Jackson III to their practice squad on Thursday, filling the last spot on their 16-man reserve roster before facing the Colts.
At 25, Jackson had been with the Bears during training camp, competing for a depth receiver role and as a possible kick returner. He recorded two receptions for 9 yards and returned kicks for a total of 59 yards during the preseason, but was not included in the initial 53-man roster and was not re-signed to the practice squad after cuts.
Now, Jackson has another chance to develop alongside Williams, whom he referred to as his “best friend” after transferring from USC to Nevada for his final college season in 2023. With Jackson’s addition, the Bears now have three wide receivers on their practice squad, joining Collin Johnson and Samori Toure.
The Bears (1-1) are set to visit the Colts (0-2) in Week 3, with the game kicking off at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, September 22.
Bears Dealing With Multiple WR Injuries in Week 3
The Bears are bringing back Jackson to their practice squad as they face injuries to key receivers ahead of Week 3.
Six-time Pro Bowl veteran Keenan Allen missed his second straight practice on Thursday due to a heel injury. Bears coach Matt Eberflus noted on Wednesday that Allen’s return depends more on pain tolerance than a specific timeline, and he hasn’t practiced since September 6, complicating his status for Week 3.
Additionally, first-round rookie Rome Odunze was limited in practice on Thursday due to an MCL sprain. Odunze has been managing this knee injury since a blocking play in the fourth quarter of the season opener, but he played almost every snap in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, recording two catches for 33 yards.
Before the Week 2 game, Odunze stated that his knee is “structurally sound” and that his participation will also hinge on pain tolerance, similar to Allen. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be available for the game against the Colts.
John Jackson Likely Not Bears’ Top Elevation Option
The Bears now have Jackson as an option to promote to their game-day roster for Week 3 if they need additional receiving depth, but he might not be their top choice.
In Week 2, the Bears elevated Collin Johnson, a standout from the preseason, to their 48-man game-day roster, but he was minimally used, playing just one offensive snap. Instead, the team focused on D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and DeAndre Carter in the passing game, along with Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift.
Tyler Scott was also largely overlooked in the receiving rotation. Although he was activated for the game after being a healthy scratch in Week 1, he played only three offensive snaps and wasn’t targeted.
To bolster their depth, the Bears could still promote one of their practice-squad receivers for the matchup against the Colts. However, unless offensive coordinator Shane Waldron makes significant changes to the game plan, it’s likely that their depth receivers, regardless of who is active, will see limited playing time again.
