Bears sign former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o to practice squad

The Bears have signed linebacker Manti Te’o to the practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

Te’o takes the practice squad spot vacated by kicker Kai Forbath, who the Los Angeles Rams signed to their active roster on Tuesday.

Te’o, 29, has played in 62 games over seven NFL seasons. He last played with the New Orleans Saints last year, appearing in three games in December.

The Chargers drafted Te’o in the second round (38th overall) in the 2013 draft. Te’o played four years in San Diego, suffering an Achilles injury during his fourth season in 2016. He signed with New Orleans the next year and played for the Saints in parts of three seasons.

In college at Notre Dame, Te’o was the 2012 Heisman Trophy runner-up, behind Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel. He also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s best college defensive player. He led Notre Dame to an appearance in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game that season.