The Chicago Bears released veteran wide receiver Scotty Miller on Sunday, part of the roster moves ahead of the NFL’s 53-man cutdown deadline.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the decision.
Miller had signed a one-year deal with the Bears in May during organized team activities, bringing experience as both a receiver and return specialist to a group that lost several veterans in the offseason.
The 29-year-old Barrington, Illinois, native entered the league as a sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. Over seven NFL seasons with Tampa Bay, the Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers, he recorded 99 receptions for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns while appearing in 93 regular-season games with nine starts.
His most productive year came in 2020 with the Buccaneers, when he caught 33 passes for 501 yards and three scores while helping the team win Super Bowl LV. In more recent seasons, production dipped. He had nine catches for 62 yards in 13 games with Pittsburgh in 2025 and five receptions for 69 yards the year before.
Miller also contributed on special teams at times, returning a limited number of punts and kickoffs during his career. In the 2026 preseason with Chicago, he recorded seven receptions for 65 yards and handled three punts.
The Bears faced a crowded wide receiver room as they prepared for the regular season under head coach Ben Johnson. Younger and less-established players, including former UFL standout Kaden Davis, impressed enough during camp and the exhibition schedule to push for roster spots.
Chicago had already made other changes this offseason, trading away wide receiver DJ Moore and parting ways with Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay. Miller was brought in as depth, but the final numbers did not work in his favor as the team trimmed its roster.
NFL clubs must reduce their active rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Bears, like every other team, continued evaluating options right up to the deadline, including potential practice squad candidates and waiver claims in the days ahead.
Miller’s release leaves him free to sign elsewhere or join a practice squad. At this stage of his career, his combination of route-running experience and special teams background could still appeal to clubs seeking depth.
The Bears’ receiving corps is expected to feature Rome Odunze and Luther Burden as key pieces, with additional contributors competing for snaps and return roles. Johnson has emphasized building a competitive group capable of supporting quarterback Caleb Williams.
Roster cutdown day always brings difficult decisions. Veterans with solid track records sometimes lose out to younger athletes who show more upside or fit specific scheme needs. Miller’s case appears to fit that pattern after a solid but not standout preseason.
Chicago opens the regular season against the Carolina Panthers. By then, the initial 53-man roster will be set, though additional moves often follow as teams address injuries or performance issues.
Miller leaves with a Super Bowl ring and nearly 100 career catches. His next opportunity will depend on how other teams assess their own depth charts after Sunday’s deadline.
