Chicago Bears trade for DT Chris Williams in pick swap with Cleveland Browns

LAKE FOREST – The Chicago Bears weren’t done adding to their defensive line yet.

One day after sending a sixth-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for defensive end Darrell Taylor, the Bears traded for Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Chris Williams on Saturday.

The Bears and Browns are swapping future draft picks in the deal. The Bears will send the Browns a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, while the Browns will send the Bears a 2025 seventh-round pick and Williams.

The 26-year-old Williams previously played in Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ defensive system when both were with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 and 2021. Williams went undrafted in 2020 out of Wagner. He played three seasons in Indianapolis before spending last season on the practice squads for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns.

Williams has not appeared in a regular season NFL game since 2022 with the Colts. He has appeared in 13 career games with six combined tackles and one QB hit.

“I was productive then when I was with [Eberflus], and I felt growth every time, every year with him,” Williams said Saturday at Halas Hall. “I know his scheme is to attack and be fast and use my skill set. [That] definitely is what I feel comfortable with in this scheme.”

Williams comes to a Bears team looking to add depth at the defensive tackle position. Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings are expected to start at the defensive tackle spots. The Bears might have been in the market for a viable rotational piece because backup Zacch Pickens suffered an injury in practice this week.

Pickens missed several days of practice and sat out the preseason finale Thursday night in Kansas City. An injury this late into training camp could put him at risk of missing the Sept. 8 season opener. Eberflus noted that he doesn’t expect Pickens’ injury to be too serious.

“We don’t think it’s a long-term thing,” Eberflus said.

Bears place 3 on IR

The Bears placed three players on injured reserve Saturday. Players who go on IR prior to the 53-man roster cut down (which is Tuesday) will be out for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Running back Ian Wheeler (knee), receiver Nsimba Webster (groin) and safety Douglas Coleman (neck) are all going on IR. All three suffered injuries during Thursday’s preseason finale against Kansas City. Wheeler tore his ACL, while Coleman had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

The Bears will continue to trim their 90-man roster down to 53 players by the 3 p.m. Tuesday deadline. The Bears already cut two players Saturday, letting defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr. and tight end Tommy Sweeney go.

Final practice

The Bears held their final practice prior to Tuesday’s roster deadline. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson warmed up with the team but exited practice early. Eberflus said it was due to a personal reason.

Several other players sat out practice Tuesday: running back Roschon Johnson, safety Kevin Byard, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, long snapper Patrick Scales, defensive end Jacob Martin, lineman Theo Benedet, lineman Ryan Bates, tackle Larry Borom, receiver Collin Johnson, receiver Dante Pettis and defensive tackle Zacch Pickens.

Eberflus said he had no update on Borom, who was carted off the field Thursday in Kansas City.