The Chicago Bears added a familiar name to their active roster ahead of Sunday Night Football, elevating running back Salvon Ahmed from the practice squad for their Week 9 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ahmed’s call-up is a standard practice-squad elevation. Under NFL rules he will return to the practice squad once the game ends, giving the team short-term depth without altering the 53-man roster.
The 27-year-old enters the weekend as an experienced option behind the Bears’ primary backs as Chicago hosts Tampa Bay at Soldier Field.
Ahmed’s path to this moment has been circuitous.
An undrafted free agent out of Washington in 2020, he spent the bulk of his early career with the Miami Dolphins, where he appeared in 38 games and rushed for 593 yards and five touchdowns while adding 40 receptions for 274 yards and a score.
After brief stops with the Broncos and Colts, he signed with Chicago in May 2026. He was released during final roster cuts in late August and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.
During the Bears’ preseason he showed the burst that once made him a productive complementary back in Miami, including a 49-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass.
He also brings prior familiarity with Chicago running backs coach Eric Studesville from their shared time in Miami, a connection that could ease his integration if he sees snaps on Sunday.
The timing of the elevation coincides with a high-profile national television game.
The Bears enter as 6-2 favorites against a 3-5 Buccaneers team that has won two straight, with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
Chicago has leaned on a strong ground game and opportunistic defense during its recent winning streak, and Ahmed provides another versatile piece should injuries or workload demand extra bodies in the backfield.
For Ahmed, the elevation is another chance to prove he still belongs on an active roster.
He has not played a regular-season snap since 2023, yet his preseason flashes and multi-year NFL résumé give the Bears a low-risk way to reinforce their depth for a prime-time contest.
Whether he touches the ball or simply adds insurance behind the existing rotation, his presence underscores how practice-squad elevations remain a practical tool for teams navigating the long regular season.
