The Bears decided to explore using a two-back set this offseason, and doubled down in Bourbonnais when they signed former Redskins fullback Darrel Young to challenge Paul Lasike.
After Young was one of 10 players cut Sunday, though, it’s fair to wonder whether the Bears will play with a fullback at all.
Young, who has 90 games of NFL experience, was terminated as a vested veteran 24 hours after playing only two offensive snaps. Lasike played two, too, after logging nine against the Patriots. Lasike played with the starting kick return and punt return units in Saturday’s loss against the Chiefs.
Injuries to tight end Zach Miller and receiver Eddie Royal might make saving a roster spot for a fullback a luxury the Bears can’t afford. They didn’t carry an active one last year, using defensive end Mitch Unrein in goal line situations while Lasike sat on the practice squad.
“You know, there’s a lot of different personnel groups and you try to have your best one out there,” coach John Fox said last week when asked about fullbacks. “A year ago it was kind of a different situation than this year, as far as the talent of your football team and how it’s situated.”
Offensive purge
Eight of the 10 players cut Sunday were offensive players.
Running back Senorise Perry, who played all 16 games in 2014 as a special teams wiz before missing last year with a foot injury, joined tight end Gannon Sinclair on the waived list. So did three receivers — Kieren Duncan, Derek Keaton and Darrin Peterson — and linemen John Kling and Martin Wallace.
Browner out
Defensive end Keith Browner, who tackled Brandon Bolden to stuff a two-point conversion against the Patriots, and cornerback Joel Ross were also waived. The Bears must cut five more players by 3 p.m. Tuesday to reach the league’s 75-man limit.
