Untested Sloter is Plan C at QB; Kush returns
Seeking insurance because of the coronavirus pandemic and backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s injured right shoulder, the Bears signed quarterback Kyle Sloter to their practice squad Tuesday.
Sloter, 26, has never appeared in a regular-season NFL game. He was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has since had stops with the Vikings, Cardinals and Lions.
Since the end of high school, Sloter has started one season at quarterback, completing 198 of 319 passes for 3,656 yards, 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a senior at Northern Colorado in 2016. He played as a receiver at Southern Miss before transferring to Northern Colorado, where he caught passes and returned punts as a junior.
The Bears also added interior offensive lineman Eric Kush to the practice squad, marking his return to the team. Kush started four games for coach John Fox’s Bears in 2016, spent 2017 on injured reserve with a torn hamstring and then started seven games at left guard for coach Matt Nagy in 2018. He helped to mentor rookie James Daniels during that season before Daniels eventually took over as the starter.
Kush will help provide depth to an O-line that has three Week 1 starters on injured reserve or the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Bears cut lineman Aaron Neary to make room.
They also signed defensive tackle Anthony Rush — who played in nine games for the Eagles last season and four with the Seahawks this year — to the active roster. He’ll help a group that has lost defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris (confirmed by sources Monday to be headed for shoulder surgery) and nose tackle John Jenkins (ankle).