The Chicago Bears announced Thursday that they have placed running back Zavier Scott on injured reserve.
The 27-year-old had established himself as a reliable special-teams contributor this season, and his absence adds another layer of uncertainty to a backfield already navigating injuries.
Scott suffered the injury—described as a thumb issue, though initially listed as a wrist problem on the injury report—during the Bears’ Week 8 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs indicated the team expects the stay on injured reserve to be relatively short, likely aligning with the league’s four-game minimum rather than a longer absence.
The move came without an immediate corresponding roster transaction.
In limited action this year, Scott has appeared in a handful of games exclusively on special teams.
He has recorded six tackles and a forced fumble, carving out a role on coverage units after the Bears elevated him multiple times from the practice squad.
With those elevations exhausted under league rules, Chicago signed him to the active roster in late October and released defensive back Nick McCloud to create a spot. He has not recorded an offensive snap for the Bears.
Scott’s path to Chicago has been circuitous.
An undrafted free agent out of Maine who originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, he was waived with an injury settlement as a rookie before later landing on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.
He earned a spot on the Vikings’ active roster in 2025, appearing in 16 games and contributing 32 carries for 114 yards along with 14 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Minnesota waived him during final cuts this summer, and the Bears added him to their practice squad the following day.
The timing is notable given the status of fellow running back Kyle Monangai, who has been sidelined with a turf toe injury.
While Scott was not viewed as a direct offensive replacement for Monangai, his presence provided both depth and special-teams value behind primary backs D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. His placement on injured reserve further thins Chicago’s options at the position as the season progresses.
For a player who has steadily worked his way from the practice squads of multiple teams to consistent game-day roles, the setback interrupts a promising stretch of contribution.
The Bears will monitor his recovery closely, hoping the projected shorter timeline holds and allows him to return and resume the special-teams work that earned him a roster spot.
