Bears sign tight end Demetrius Harris

The Bears officially signed Demetrius Harris, who played tight end for the Chiefs under Matt Nagy, to a one-year deal on Thursday night.

The 6-7, 230-pounder spent the first five years of his career with the Chiefs, including four while Nagy was working on the team’s offensive staff. The Browns signed him to a two-year, $6 million deal last year but cut him earlier this week. The 28-year-old former Wisconsin-Milwaukee basketball player caught 15 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season in Cleveland. He has 72 catches for 754 yards in his career.

The Bears are desperate for tight-end depth after Trey Burton was hampered all last season following groin surgery. He caught 14 passes for 84 yards before landing on injured reserve. Adam Shaheen and Ben Braunecker, who started the season as the team’s second- and third-string tight ends, also finished the season on IR. The Bears had six tight ends catch a pass last year, and none finished with more than 14 catches or 91 yards.

The Bears believe Burton will be better this season after he had surgery in the labrum on his hip. Still, they figure to pursue more tight-end depth when free agency begins March 18 and again in the April draft. They’ll get an up-close look at tight end prospects at next week’s combine.

NFL Network first reported the move on Wednesday.