The Bears are getting a new weapon for their biggest game of the season: tight end Adam Shaheen, whom they activated from injured reserve Saturday.
To make room, the Bears put tight end Dion Sims on IR. He remains in concussion protocol two weeks after he was hurt in the victory against the Bills.
Shaheen will make his season debut against the Vikings three months to the day after he injured his right foot and ankle in the preseason game against the Broncos. He started the season on IR and had a cast on his right foot for seven weeks. He practiced for the first time Nov. 7, opening a three-week window in which the Bears had to either take him off IR or keep him there for the rest of the season.
The move wasn’t a surprise. Coach Matt Nagy said Friday he was hopeful that Shaheen could return. Saving him for the Lions game on Thanksgiving wouldn’t have benefitted him much. The Bears will have just one light practice between Sunday night and Thursday.
A second-round pick in 2017, Shaheen had only 12 catches for 127 yards last season as he adjusted to the chasm between Division II Ashland and the NFL. The Bears consider Shaheen (6-5, 270 pounds) a unique red-zone threat.
Nagy acknowledged Friday that putting Sims on IR was a possibility. The Bears also cut offensive lineman James Stone from the practice squad.
