Bears promoting WR Tanner Gentry to the active roster

SHARE Bears promoting WR Tanner Gentry to the active roster
i.jpg

Bears receiver Tanner Gentry made a 45-yard touchdown catch vs. the Titans. (AP)

Nobody’s saying Tanner Gentry is going to become Mitch Trubisky’s Jordy Nelson. But with the dearth of productive wide receivers on the Bears, the undrafted rookie from Wyoming is certainly worth a shot.

The Bears promoted Gentry from the practice squad to the active roster Wednesday. They cut Deonte Thompson to make room for him.

“[Gentry is] a smart guy, he knows the offense and he understands it,” coach John Fox said. “He’s been here since camp. He’s a young guy. He wasn’t a drafted player, but he keeps catching our eye. He’s been productive. We wanted to give him that opportunity.”

Gentry was a star in training camp and developed a good rapport with Trubisky. They connected on a 45-yard touchdown in the preseason against the Titans.

“Tanner’s a great player,” Trubisky said. “He knows how to go up and get the ball. He’s a good vertical threat. We’ve developed good chemistry ever since rookie minicamp just throwing with each other and being on the same page. We just need to continue to get better chemistry with the whole group. The more reps we can get, the better we’ll be as a group.”

Gentry started the season on the practice squad but was activated in Week 2. He caught two passes from Mike Glennon for 27 yards against the Buccaneers but also had two penalties and was waived the following week.

No Kwit in this kid

Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski said he felt great in his return to practice on a limited basis after missing the last three games with a chest injury. But his status for the game Sunday against the Ravens is unknown.

“It’s waiting and seeing,” Kwiatkoski said. “It feels good. There are a lot of things I haven’t done yet on it. So get that fine line and see what I can do.”

Injury report

Cornerback Marcus Cooper (back) and linebacker John Timu (ankle, knee) did not practice. Kwiatkoski and center Hroniss Grasu (hand) were limited.

It’s Cohen’s move

The league has responded to rookie running back Tarik Cohen. Now it’s the Bears’ turn to respond back. Cohen has been held to 37 yards on 12 carries in two games since his 36-yard run against the Steelers in overtime. His longest gain on 17 touches is eight yards.

“There’s a fine line because you don’t want to take the best part of him away,’’ offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. ‘‘He’s had success doing it. So we’re just going to keep telling him to trust the play, let the play come to you. Don’t try to create a touchdown every time.”

Follow me on Twitter @MarkPotash.

Email: mpotash@suntimes.com

RELATED STORIES

Bears looking to give Mitch Trubisky better support

‘Top-turnbuckle stuff’: A history of the Bears’ 2-point trick play

The Latest
The ensemble storyline captures not just a time and place, but a core theme playwright August Wilson continued to express throughout his Century Cycle.
At 70, the screen stalwart charms as reformed thief with a goofball brother and an inscrutable ex.
The cause of the fire was apparently accidental, police said.
The man was found by police in the 200 block of West 72nd Street around 2:30 a.m.
Matt Mullady is known as a Kankakee River expert and former guide, but he has a very important artistic side, too.