The Bears signed five players Monday, including former Simeon receiver Matt Fleming one day after the end of rookie minicamp, which featured tryout players.
The most notable of the four players cut to make room on the roster was outside linebacker Howard Jones, who appeared in four games for the Bears last season and 20 with the Buccaneers in 2015 and 2016.
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Fleming, a former Simeon star from Benedictine University in Lisle, had 45 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was also a Division III track star. Coach Matt Nagy singled him out at the end of
rookie minicamp Sunday.
“Not a real big kid,” Nagy said, “but he made his assignments, did his job, made some nice catches.”
The Bears, who are desperate for pass-rush help despite drafting Utah’s Kylie Fitts in the sixth round, signed the 49ers’ Aaron Lynch and re-signed Sam Acho to team with former first-round pick Leonard Floyd.
The Bears also cut former Notre Dame linebacker Nyles Morgan, who signed last week, as well as offensive linemen Cameron Lee and Travis Averill.
Offensive linemen Jeremi Hall and Matt McCants and defensive backs Tyrin Holloway and John Franklin III also signed.
Franklin played quarterback and receiver during his college stops: East Mississippi Community College (featured on a Netflix series called “Last Chance U”); Florida State; Auburn; and Florida Atlantic.
Franklin, who caught seven passes for 95 yards for the Owls last year, has never played defense before.
