The Bears on Saturday promoted rookie defensive lineman Jonathan Harris from the practice squad to the active roster and terminated the contract of veteran tight end Bradley Sowell.
A Chicago-area native who attended Waubonsie High School in Aurora, Harris signed with the Bears this year as an undrafted rookie from Lindenwood. Last year as a senior, he established career highs with 59 tackles and 11.5 tackles-for-loss and tied career best with 6.0 sacks.
Harris joins a Bears defensive line that has been impacted by injuries. Tackle Bilal Nichols has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Vikings with a broken hand, while end Akiem Hicks is listed as questionable after sitting out practice all week with a knee injury.
Sowell, who switched from offensive tackle to tight end during the offseason, was also released last Monday, hours before the Bears played the Redskins, to make room on their roster for defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson. Sowell was then re-signed on Thursday.
