Another disappointing season for tight end Adam Shaheen ended when the Bears put him on injured reserve Saturday. They also put special-teams ace Sherrick McManis on IR with a groin injury.
Shaheen, the Bears’ second-round pick (45th overall) in 2017, has yet to show he can be a productive player. He has battled injuries his three years with the team and has 26 catches in 27 career games.
He was a healthy scratch Nov. 10 against the Lions and has been on the injury report with a foot issue since. Shaheen has one season left at $1.9 million on his rookie deal, but the Bears can cut him for a dead salary-cap hit of about $600,000.
McManis has been a staple on special teams and as a reserve defensive back since 2012.
“Man, he’s one of the best in the game,” Bears returner and gunner Cordarrelle Patterson said this week. “We’ll never be able to make up for what [McManis] can do. . . . You could never replace that guy.”
McManis will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The Bears filled the vacant roster spots by signing tight end Eric Saubert and interior offensive lineman Corey Levin.
Saubert, 25, is in his third season after the Falcons drafted him in the fifth round in 2017. He had five catches for 48 yards in two seasons with Atlanta, was cut by the Patriots in the preseason this year and had been on the Raiders’ practice squad. He went to Drake after attending Hoffman Estates.