The Bears continued to shape their 53-man roster Wednesday, claiming the following six players off waivers from other teams:
Cornerback Josh Blackwell (Eagles)
The Buford, Ga., native entered the NFL with Philadelphia this year as an undrafted free agent from Duke, where he appeared in 37 career games with 28 starts and recorded 96 tackles, 20 pass breakups and two tackles-for-loss.
Defensive end Kingsley Jonathan (Bills)
The Nigeria native entered the NFL with Buffalo this year as an undrafted free agent from Syracuse, where he played in 56 career games and registered 101 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (Raiders)
Leatherwood was selected by Las Vegas with the 17th pick in the first round of last year's draft out of Alabama. He started all 17 games as a rookie in 2021, moving to right guard in Week 5 after struggling at right tackle.
Defensive end Armon Watts (Vikings)
Selected by Minnesota in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Arkansas, Watts appeared in 40 games with 10 starts the past three seasons, compiling 90 tackles, 7.0 sacks and three tackles-for-loss. Last year he played in all 17 games with nine starts, establishing career highs with 46 tackles, 5.0 sacks and three tackles-for-loss.
Linebacker Sterling Weatherford (Colts)
Weatherford entered the NFL with Indianapolis this year as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Ohio), where he teamed with Bears rookie defensive end Dominique Robinson, a fifth-round pick. Weatherford played safety in college but was switched to linebacker by the Colts.
Tight end Trevon Wesco (Jets)
Wesco was chosen by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2019 draft out of West Virginia. He appeared in 40 games with 12 starts the past three seasons, catching six passes for 87 yards.
In corresponding moves to make room for the six new players on the roster, the Bears waived guard Zachary Thomas, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, linebacker Caleb Johnson and cornerback Duke Shelley; terminated the contract of veteran linebacker Joe Thomas and put receiver Tajae Sharpe on injured reserve. Sharpe is not eligible to return to the active roster this season.
Tonga (15), Johnson (14) and Shelley (10) combined to play 39 games for the Bears last season.
Following the latest wave of moves, the Bears roster now contains 34 players that first-year general manager Ryan Poles acquired and just 19 that he inherited from the previous regime.
