Tag: DeMarquis Gates

Bears elevate LB DeMarquis Gates to active roster vs. Browns

With Noah Sewell out, the Bears elevated linebacker DeMarquis Gates from the practice squad to the active roster.

The Chicago Bears elevated linebacker DeMarquis Gates from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of their game against the Cleveland Browns, the team announced on Saturday.

Gates has played in three games this season and has one tackle. His most notable play came against the Detroit Lions in Week 11, when he recovered a fumble on a kickoff return that set the Bears up for a score in their 31-26 loss. Gates takes the roster spot of defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who was placed on injured reserve this week with a broken ankle, but will fill in specifically for rookie linebacker Noah Sewell, who is out with a knee injury.

The Bears and Browns kick off on Sunday at noon CT.

Bears TE Robert Tonyan now questionable for Sunday’s game vs. Packers

The Bears added Tonyan to the injury report with a back issue and announced a few roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game.

The Chicago Bears were set to enter their Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers with essentially a healthy roster, but now they could be without one of their tight ends. On Saturday, the Bears added Robert Tonyan to the injury report with a back issue, and he is now questionable to play. He practiced in full all week and had no injury designation up to this point.

Tonyan was signed as a free agent this offseason after spending six years with the Packers. He was set to face his former team for the first time, but that is now in jeopardy. His status for the game will be announced no later than 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

With Tonyan landing on the injury report, the Bears elevated tight end Stephen Carlson, as well as linebacker DeMarquis Gates, from the practice squad. They also released linebacker Dylan Cole, who was the lone player with an injury designation on Friday.

Carlson saw the most action of any Bears tight end this preseason but hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2020 due to injuries. Gates, meanwhile, played in three games for the Bears last season, totaling one tackle.

Report: Bears to sign former Steelers LB Buddy Johnson

According to Aaron Wilson, the Bears are signing former Steelers linebacker Buddy Johnson.

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The Chicago Bears are bringing in defensive help ahead of training camp, but it’s not at the edge rusher position as many expected.

According to KPRC reporter and NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Bears are signing former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Buddy Johnson to a deal.

Johnson was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He played in just four games his rookie season, primarily on special teams. He totaled just two tackles.

Johnson couldn’t climb the depth chart entering his second season in Steelers camp and was waived during roster cutdowns. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad prior to the 2022 season and now comes to the Bears in an attempt to restart his career.

For weeks, a defensive signing was expected by the Bears, but many assumed it would be to address edge rusher, not inside linebacker. Johnson will compete with reserve players such as Sterling Weatherford, DeMarquis Gates, and Kuony Deng for a roster spot when training camp practices get underway this Wednesday.

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Bears roster bubble: Which players helped or hurt their cause in Week 1

Following the Bears’ Week 1 preseason win, here’s a look at which roster-bubble players impressed and disappointed vs. Chiefs.

The Chicago Bears opened the preseason with a 19-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, where there were plenty of players who stood out — either in a good way or bad way.

With the first roster cuts set for Tuesday — where GM Ryan Poles will have to trim the roster from 90 to 85 — there were a handful of players who helped their chances of competing for a spot on the 53-man roster with strong preseason outings against the Chiefs. And there were others who might’ve hurt their chances.

Following Chicago’s Week 1 preseason win, here’s a look at which roster-bubble players helped or hurt their cause.

DeMarquis Gates of Bears has mind-boggling football resume

DeMarquis Gates is looking to stick with the Chicago Bears after a long football odyssey

Football leagues seem to come and go, except for the NFL. And that creates opportunities for players looking to continue the dream of their earning a living as a pro football player.

DeMarquis Gates is in Chicago Bears camp and the journey he took to get a chance to stick with the NFC North team in 2022 is mind-blowing.

Check this out via Gates’ Wikipedia page:

  • Cleveland Browns

After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Gates was signed by the Cleveland Browns on May 22, 2018. He was waived on June 14.

  • Memphis Express

Gates joined the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football  On March 28, 2019, Gates was named AAF Defensive Player of the Week. The AAF abruptly folded on April 2 after eight games. Gates led the AAF in tackles with 52 and forced fumbles with five.

  • Washington 

On April 11, Gates was signed by Washington. He was waived on June 11.

  • Houston Roughnecks

Gates was selected by the Houston Roughnecks in Phase 3 Round 8 of the 2020 XFL Draft. Before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gates had 32 tackles (second on the team) and 2.0 sacks (tied for the team lead) for the Roughnecks. He had a game-winning fumble recovery against the Dallas Renegades and forced a fumble late versus the Seattle Dragons. He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.

  1. Minnesota Vikings

On March 25, Gates signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was waived on August 13, 2020.

  • TSL Blues

Gates was selected by the Blues of The Spring League during its player selection draft on October 12, 2020.

  • Saskatchewan Roughriders

He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL on December 17, 2020.

  • Birmingham Stallions

Gates was selected with the second pick of the 29th round of the 2022 USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions. He was ruled inactive for the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Bandits on May 7, 2022. He was moved back to the active roster on May 14.

  • Chicago Bears

On August 6, 2022, Gates signed with the Chicago Bears.

Gates had four tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday in the Bears’ first preseason game, including a tackle for loss.

The former Ole Miss player is getting his shot and it would be nice to see him find a home with an NFL team in the regular season

Seven young players to watch in Week 1 of the NFL preseason

Touchdown Wire’s Laurie Fitzpatrick points out seven young players to watch in the first week of the 2022 NFL preseason.

It’s officially the first weekend of full NFL preseason football! As teams begin joint practices, most starters will either be held out in this week’s games, or will play limited snaps.

This weekend’s matchups will be a good evaluation tool to see which players will make the first round of depth chart cuts (to 85 players) that take place on August 16th.

As players finally get to play full game speed, let’s take a look at a few underdogs who have been unexpectedly shining through camp; and who may surprise us all to make the final roster.s

Report: Bears to sign veteran LB Javin White

The Bears are reportedly signing veteran LB Javin White

The Chicago Bears have been busy bolstering their defense over the last couple of days and that trend appears to be continuing on Saturday. According to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, the team is signing veteran linebacker Javin White to a contract.

White began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, signing as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV. He appeared in four games his rookie season, notching four total tackles, including one for a loss. White was injured for much of the 2021 season, spending the year with the Raiders and the New York Jets. He played in one game for each team, primarily contributing on special teams. He was released by the Jets in late July.

Prior to joining the Bears, White had plenty of interest from other NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, according to Wilson. The 25-year old wasn’t able to fully show what he could do last season as he dealt with injuries, but perhaps could take advantage of an opportunity with the Bears. With star linebacker Roquan Smith still on the physically unable to perform list, they are counting on players like veteran Matthew Adams, undrafted free agent Jack Sanborn, and USFL standout DeMarquis Gartes to help fill the void at the position opposite Nicholas Morrow, who now reunites with his former teammate.

Bears sign LB DeMarquis Gates, waive LB Christian Albright with injury designation

The Bears have signed LB DeMarquis Gates and waived LB Christian Albright with an injury designation.

The Chicago Bears have signed linebacker DeMarquis Gates and waived rookie linebacker Christian Albright with an injury designation, the team announced Saturday.

Gates is a former undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, but he was cut later that same summer. He’s had NFL stops in Cleveland (2018), Washington (2019) and Minnesota (2020). Gates also appeared in the AAF (Memphis Express, 2019), XFL (Houston Roughnecks, 2020), CFL (Saskatchewan Roughriders, 2021) and most recently the USFL (Birmingham Stallions, 2022).

Last season in the USFL, Gates had 68 tackles, 6.5 sacks, an interception, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery en route to a championship with the Stallions.

Albright, who signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent this offseason, left Monday’s training camp practice with an injury. In five years at Ball State, Albright totaled 260 tackles, 33.5 tackles-for-loss, 16.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 13 pass breakups, 9 forced fumbles and 3 fumbles recoveries.

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8 USFL players the Detroit Lions should consider

8 USFL players the Detroit Lions should consider after the league’s first season completed

The first season of the rebooted USFL completed Saturday night in Canton, Ohio. The Birmingham Stallions held off the Philadelphia Stars in a very entertaining and competitive championship game.

Much of the USFL talent pool is filled with players who would love to advance into the NFL. And more than a few showed they have enough ability or unique traits for NFL teams like the Detroit Lions to take a longer look at them now that the USFL season is complete.

Here are eight USFL players who stood out as players the Lions scouting department should dive deeper on in advance of training camp.

Kyle Sloter’s USFL postseason run wrecked by former Vikings players

Former Vikings players were making plays on both sides in the USFL playoffs semifinals.

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyle Sloter’s USFL playoff run came crashing to a halt over the weekend with the New Orleans Breakers losing in the semifinals to the Birmingham Stallions.

Turnovers played a big role in the Breakers coming up short of their goal of competing in the inaugural USFL championship on Sunday.

And you can thank two former Vikings players for that as well.

Stallions linebacker DeMarquis Gates and cornerback Tae Hayes were all over the field making plays throughout the game. Gates came up with a backbreaking pick-six after Sloter was hit in the pocket while trying to make a throw.

And Hayes came up with the second takeaway on a heads up play—and a straight up bad pass by Sloter.

Hayes made a pit stop in Minnesota back in 2020.

After serving on the practice squad for a month, he was boosted to the active roster ahead of the team’s Week 17 matchup with the Detroit Lions that season.

Meanwhile, Gates was also on the Vikings roster that year during spring work and training camp.

Neither player had long stays in Minnesota, but they have clearly caught on well in the USFL for a Stallions team set to do battle with the Philadelphia Stars in the championship game.

As for Sloter, who finished the season second in passing behind Tampa Bay Bandits quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, it’s back to the drawing board for the 28-year-old signal-caller who still has a burning desire to get back to the NFL.