The Chicago Bears released 26-year-old offensive lineman Kyle Hergel from the practice squad on Tuesday as part of a series of roster moves announced by the team.
Hergel, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound guard from Toronto, Ontario, had been with the Bears organization since November 2025. The Canadian undrafted free agent originally signed with the New Orleans Saints after going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft and appearing as a first-round pick (third overall) in that year’s CFL draft.
He played eight games as a rookie with New Orleans in 2024, logging 45 offensive snaps and special-teams work before being waived in August 2025.
Chicago signed him to the practice squad in Week 10 of the 2025 season. He later received a reserve/futures contract in January 2026, was waived during final cuts on Aug. 30, and immediately re-signed to the practice squad.
He never appeared in a regular-season game for the Bears. Hergel played college football at North Dakota, Texas State, and Boston College, where he earned All-ACC honorable mention as a starter in 2023.
The Bears also signed long snapper Scott Daly to the 53-man roster, added defensive back Nick McCloud to the practice squad, and waived long snapper Beau Garner.
The moves come after Chicago’s 1-1 start, including a 9-3 Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in which starting quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury and backup Tyson Bagent entered concussion protocol.
Releasing Hergel from the practice squad opens a spot amid ongoing depth adjustments on the offensive line under head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears have invested heavily in the unit, including extensions and veteran additions, after Williams was sacked frequently as a rookie.
Practice-squad players like Hergel provide cheap, flexible depth but are frequently cycled as needs change at other positions or as injured players return.
Hergel, now an exclusive-rights free agent heading toward 2027, can sign with another team. At 26 with limited NFL snaps, he remains a developmental interior lineman who has shown the ability to bounce between practice squads and brief active-roster stints.
The Bears, preparing for a Week 3 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, continue to tweak the bottom of the roster as they navigate early-season injuries at quarterback and elsewhere.
The transaction is typical mid-September housekeeping rather than a major roster overhaul.
Chicago’s official announcement listed Hergel’s release alongside the long-snapper swap and the addition of McCloud, underscoring how practice-squad spots are used to address immediate needs while keeping future options open.
