Bears sign former Falcons WR Justin Hardy

The Bears already felt good about their wide receiver group Tuesday, but added to it anyway by picking up Justin Hardy. Hardy is likely to sign with the team in time for the first practice of training camp Wednesday.

The Bears signed Hardy and fellow receiver Jon’Vea Johnson and cut defensive back Rojesterman Farris and receiver Khalil McClain.

Hardy, 29, played five seasons for the Falcons after the drafted him in the fourth round out of East Carolina. He did not play last season.

Over the 2016 and ‘17 seasons, Hardy caught 41 passes for 424 yards and seven touchdowns, but failed to break 200 years either of the next two seasons. He played all 16 games in 2019, getting 17% of the offensive snaps, and finished with 19 catches for 195 yards.

The Bears go into this season with Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney as their top receivers, but it’s an open competition beyond those two. Veterans Damiere Byrd and Marquise Goodwin are the favorites, especially after the team traded Anthony Miller to the Texans last week.