Bears' Stephen Carlson: Signing onto Bears' active roster
Rotowire
Chicago signed Carlson from its practice squad to its 53-man roster Wednesday, Brendan Sugrue of USA Today reports.
When Cole Kmet went to the Bears' injured reserve list with a season-ending knee injury following Week 7, it left the team with just two healthy tight ends on its active roster, so the move gives the club some much-needed depth at the position. As long as starter Colston Loveland and rookie third-rounder Sam Roush remain available, though, Carlson's role will likely be limited as the season progresses.
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Stephen Carlson: Goes back to practice squad
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Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carlson was elevated ahead of Chicago's win over Seattle on Monday and logged 10 offensive snaps, along with four special-teams snaps, without otherwise getting into the box score. It was his first gameday action of the season, so the veteran tight end is eligible to be elevated twice more. With Cole Kmet (knee) landing on season-ending IR in late October, Carlson could be called upon again in Week 9 against Tampa Bay.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Elevated from practice squad
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The Bears elevated Carlson from their practice squad Monday ahead of the team's matchup versus Seattle.
Carlson should provide additional depth at tight end behind Colston Loveland and Sam Roush with Cole Kmet out for the season due to a knee injury. This marks the first time this season that Carlson has been elevated for a game since joining Chicago back in September.
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Stephen Carlson: Gets added to Bears' practice squad
Rotowire
Chicago signed Carlson to its practice squad Monday.
The Bears released Carlson on Sunday, opting to keep only three healthy tight ends on their initial 53-man roster for 2026. He appeared in two regular-season games with Chicago in 2025 but did not register any targets.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Signs future deal with Chicago
Rotowire
The Bears signed Carlson to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
With a future contract, Carlson will be on the Bears' 90-man roster when the offseason begins Feb. 9 and will be eligible to participate in offseason programs such as OTAs and minicamp. The Princeton product spent the entire 2025 campaign on the Bears' practice squad and appeared in two regular-season games, though he did not record a catch across those two contests.
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Stephen Carlson: Back to practice squad
Rotowire
Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carlson was elevated to the Bears' active roster Saturday, but he was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Giants after Durham Smythe was cleared to play through a calf injury. It was Carlson's third elevation of the season, which means he would have to be signed to Chicago's active roster in order to continue to play in the Windy City.
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Stephen Carlson: Back with practice squad
Rotowire
Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Carlson was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Ravens, failing to record any stats while playing four snaps on offense and seven snaps with the special-teams unit. The tight end finished third in offensive snaps behind Colston Loveland (51) and Durham Smythe (20) at his position, and if Cole Kmet (back) remains out in Week 9, Carlson could be elevated again prior to the team's matchup with the Bengals.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Elevated Saturday
Rotowire
Carlson was elevated to the Bears' active roster Saturday, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.
The 28-year-old's elevation provides Chicago with depth at tight end, as Cole Kmet (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Ravens. Carlson played in the Bears' Week 4 win over the Raiders, failing to record an offensive stat across 15 total snaps (10 on offense, five on special teams). He's likely to have a depth role in Chicago's tight-end corps, playing behind Colston Loveland and Durham Smythe.
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Stephen Carlson: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carlson made his 2025 regular-season debut in the Bears' Week 4 win over the Raiders due to the absence of Colston Loveland (hip). Carlson played a total of 15 snaps (10 on offense, five on special teams) without otherwise showing up on the box score. Loveland will have additional time to recover from his injury thanks to the Week 5 bye, so Carlson will likely remain on the practice squad for the Bears' Week 6 clash against the Commanders on Monday, Oct. 13.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Elevated Saturday
Rotowire
The Bears elevated Carlson from their practice squad to active roster Saturday.
With Colston Loveland (hip) expected to miss Chicago's Week 4 matchup against the Raiders, Carlson adds depth to the team's tight end corps. The 28-year-old from Princeton last played for the Bears in 2023, appearing in one game and logging one special-teams snap.
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Stephen Carlson: Back with Bears
Rotowire
Carlson signed to Chicago's practice squad Wednesday.
The tight end was released Tuesday after falling short of the Bears' 53-man roster, though he stuck with the team after clearing waivers. Carlson missed the whole 2024 regular season with a collarbone injury and appeared on just one special-teams snap during the 2023 campaign. He last saw extended action in 2019 and '20 with Cleveland, though he only has six career catches for 62 yards.
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Stephen Carlson: Released by Bears
Rotowire
Chicago released Carlson on Tuesday.
Carlson is healthy after having missed all of the 2024 season due to a collarbone injury, but he's now among a number of cuts made by the Bears to get down to a 53-man roster. The 28-year-old will likely look to resurface on a practice squad, whether with the Bears or elsewhere in the league.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Back in Chicago
Rotowire
The Bears re-signed Carlson (collarbone) on Friday, Brendan Sugrue of USA Today reports.
Carlson missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a serious collarbone injury sustained back in September, after having begun the season on the practice squad. He only appeared in one game with Chicago in 2023, playing one snap on special teams. Carlson figures to be fully healthy by the start of training camp, at which point he could get a chance to compete for a greater depth role behind Cole Kmet and Durham Smythe.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Set for free agency
Rotowire
Carlson (collarbone) was placed on injured reserve Sept. 28 and didn't play a snap for the Bears in 2024.
Carlson has played one special-teams snap over four seasons since posting 333 receiving yards in 2020. The 28-year-old tight end is now an unrestricted free agent.
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Stephen Carlson: Sticks around in Windy City
Rotowire
Carlson signed with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Carlson appeared in one regular-season game for the Bears in 2023 and spent most of the year on the taxi squad. He was gunning for a spot on Chicago's 53-man roster during training camp, but he wasn't able to do so after finishing the preseason with five catches (on six targets) for 36 yards. Carlson could be promoted to the active roster during the upcoming season should Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett or Marcedes Lewis miss time.
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Stephen Carlson: Released by Chicago
Rotowire
The Bears released Carlson on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The 27-year-old tight end bounced between the practice squad and active roster with Chicago last season but appeared in just one game. He hasn't caught a regular-season pass since 2020 with the Browns and has just six career grabs for 62 yards and one touchdown.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Gets reserve/future contract
Rotowire
The Bears signed Carlson to a reserve/future contract Monday, Larry Mayer of the team's official website reports.
Carlson spent most of the season on Chicago's practice squad, but he only saw the field in one game. He played one special-teams snap in Week 10 versus the Panthers. The 27-year-old will now attempt to put the work in during the offseason to ultimately earn a spot on the Bears' roster in the 2024 campaign.
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Stephen Carlson: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carlson was elevated to Chicago's active roster Saturday, but he was ultimately ruled inactive prior to the game. Thus, he will continue to try and impress at practice while awaiting a new opportunity to get called up.
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Stephen Carlson: Back in Windy City
Rotowire
Carlson is signing with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Carlson was unable to land a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster this year but will attempt to find a role as part of the practice squad. He spent the 2019 and 2020 campaigns with the Browns but has dealt with injuries in recent seasons.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Headed to Chicago
Rotowire
Carlson agreed to a one-year contract with Chicago on Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The tight end out of Princeton is going from Cleveland to Chicago after signing with the Bears on Saturday. He hasn't played in the NFL since 2020, but in his last two active seasons with Cleveland he recorded six catches for 62 yards and one touchdown while acting as a special teams ace, playing over 80 percent of the special teams snaps. This is the third tight end Chicago has brought in this offseason, as the team also lured Robert Tonyan away from Green Bay and signed Damien Caffrey as an undrafted free agent.
