Coach John Fox, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky addressed the Bears' pending trade for Chargers receiver Dontrelle Inman Wednesday after practice.
The trade is contingent on Inman passing a physical with the Bears.
"We won't announce anything until he passes his physical and the normal things that go along with a trade, including roster spot," Fox said.
Inman has appeared in 41 games with 23 starts the past four seasons with the Chargers, catching 107 passes for 1,463 yards and seven touchdowns. He set career highs last year in all receiver categories with 58 receptions for 810 yards and four TDs while starting all 16 games.
"I have watched some tape on him obviously when this [trade] was going on," Loggains said. "I just saw a smart, savvy player that should be able to provide some leadership in a young room, and we need that type of figure right now to help these guys out."
See photos from practice during week 8 at Halas Hall as the Bears prepare to face the Saints on Sunday, October 29.
Inman traveled a unique path to the NFL. He entered the league with the Jaguars in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia, but failed to make Jacksonville's 53-man roster.
Inman then joined the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts in 2012 and helped the team win the Grey Cup as a rookie. After playing a second season in Toronto, he signed with the Chargers in 2014 as a free agent.
So far this season Inman has just two catches for nine yards while playing behind talented receivers Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin.
Inman will join an injury-depleted receiving corps with the Bears. Cameron Meredith (knee) and Kevin White (shoulder) are on injured reserve, while Markus Wheaton remains sidelined with a groin injury.
No Bears wide receiver has more than 20 catches through seven games. Kendall Wright leads the group with 20 receptions for 236 yards and one touchdown. The other healthy receivers on the 53-man roster are Joshua Bellamy (10-114-0), Tanner Gentry (3-35-0) and Tre McBride (1-18-0).
"We'll get [Inman] in here," Loggains said. "We'll assess where he's at, figure out what he can and can't do. I think it's too early right now without talking to him or meeting him to figure out what that role will be at this point."
Trubisky is eager to work with Inman.
"I'm not really sure how this whole process works—a guy coming in in the middle of the season," said the rookie quarterback. "But I'm looking forward to it. I've heard he's a good player. We'll help him any way we can.
"We've got to continue to get better as a room, get better as an offense and as a team and help him any way I can with the playbook, out on the field staying after [practice] just to develop that chemistry and develop that timing."
