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Top Ben Braunecker News
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Ben Braunecker: Let go by Chicago
The Bears cut Braunecker on Thursday.
Braunecker put up career numbers with the Bears last season, logging six catches for 59 yards and his first touchdown across 11 games. Despite having showcased a step forward in his development, offseason additions Cole Kmet, Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris have now made Braunecker the odd man out in Chicago's crowded tight end room. He hit injured reserve due to a concussion in December, but has since fully recovered and will be free to search for a chance with another organization.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Back for 2020
Braunecker (concussion) remains in the mix among the nine tight ends on Chicago's roster heading into training camp, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
The 26-year-old landed on injured reserve with a concussion in December, but before that, he put up career highs with six catches for 59 yards in 11 games while also catching his first career touchdown. The Bears were disappointed with their tight-end production last season, so they brought in new talent this offseason, drafting Cole Kmet in the second round while signing Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris. Braunecker likely will enter training camp below all three -- plus Adam Shaheen -- on the depth chart and may have a tough time making the Week 1 roster.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Placed on IR
The Bears placed Braunecker (concussion) on injured reserve Saturday.
Braunecker is the third Bears tight end to land on IR this season. Jesper Horstead and J.P. Holtz now figure to handle most of the responsibilities at that position going forward, with the former presumably in line for the No. 1 role. Braunecker's season will come to a close with six receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Won't face Packers
Braunecker (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Braunecker is still working through the league's concussion protocol and will miss a third straight game. His absence leaves Jesper Horsted and J.P. Holtz as the top tight ends in Chicago.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: No practice reps Thursday
Braunecker (concussion) didn't practice Thursday.
Braunecker hasn't taken the first step (on-field work) in his journey through the concussion protocol, let alone progress enough to be considered for an evaluation in front of an independent neurologist. Seemingly on pace for a third DNP in a row Sunday at Green Bay, he'll leave tight end in the hands of J.P Holtz and Jesper Horsted.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Remains sidelined at practice
Braunecker (concussion) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report.
For the third consecutive week, Braunecker isn't taking the field due to a concussion. With no noticeable progress to date through the protocol, he has no timetable for a return to action. As long as Braunecker is sidelined, expect J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted to split tight end reps for the Bears.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Not suiting up Thursday
Braunecker (concussion) has been ruled out for Thursday's game versus the Cowboys.
Braunecker emerged from Week 12 with a concussion, which hasn't allowed him to practice in the interim. He'll miss his second consecutive contest as a result, leaving J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, Bradley Sowell and Eric Saubert as the Bears' available tight ends.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Sits out another practice
Braunecker (concussion) didn't practice Tuesday, Stacey Dales of NFL Network reports.
Braunecker has sat out of every practice since sustaining a concussion during Week 12's win over the Giants, making it unlikely he plays Thursday against the Cowboys. When he's ready to return, Braunecker will be the No. 1 tight end since both Trey Burton (calf) and Adam Shaheen are on IR, but J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horstead and Bradley Sowell figure to lead the way until then.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Remains in concussion protocol
Braunecker is still in the concussion protocol and didn't practice Monday, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Braunecker sustained the concussion Week 12 against the Giants and didn't play versus the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The 25-year-old will have to fully clear the protocol before returning to game action, putting his availability in doubt for Thursday's matchup with Dallas.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Ruled out for Thursday
Braunecker (concussion) won't play in Thursday's game against the Lions.
Braunecker couldn't recover from the head injury on the short week after sustaining the concussion in Sunday's win over the Giants. Adam Shaheen (foot) will also be on the shelf, so J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted and Bradley Sowell will round out Chicago's tight-end corps. Holtz and Horsted are the best pass catchers of the trio, but neither makes for a reliable fantasy option this week.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Logs another DNP
Braunecker (concussion) was listed as a non-participant in Tuesday's practice.
Braunecker sat out a second straight practice after suffering a concussion during Week 12's win over the Giants, and coach Matt Nagy said "it'd be a stretch" for the fourth-year tight end to suit up Thursday against the Lions, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. With Adam Shaheen (foot) also absent from practice this week, the Bears are preparing to roll out J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted and Bradley Sowell at tight end in case neither Braunecker nor Shaheen are cleared in time.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: DNP due to concussion
Braunecker has been diagnosed with a concussion and was listed as a DNP on Monday's practice estimate.
Braunecker got a spot start this past Sunday against the Giants, earning 71 percent of the offensive snaps and turning them into two catches (on four targets) for nine yards. The opportunity arose due to Adam Shaheen's (foot) absence and Trey Burton's (calf) presence on IR, but Braunecker now joins Shaheen on the injury report. Braunecker will find it difficult to get through the concussion protocol and play Thursday in Detroit, so the Bears may be down to J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted and Bradley Sowell at tight end Week 13.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Targeted four times
Braunecker caught two passes for nine yards in the Bears' 19-14 victory over the Giants on Sunday.
Braunecker dropped a long pass that could have potentially been a touchdown, and as a result, he ended up with a quiet performance. On the season, there hasn't been a Bears tight end to reach 20 yards in a game, making Braunecker and the rest of Chicago's TE corps a weak fantasy option.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: In line for another start
Braunecker is expected to be the Bears' primary tight end Sunday against the Giants in the absence of Adam Shaheen (foot).
A healthy scratch Week 10, Shaheen has been tending to a foot injury in the interim that is forcing a second consecutive DNP this weekend. Meanwhile, Trey Burton (calf) was placed on IR last Saturday, leaving TE reps up for grabs. Braunecker got most of them this past Sunday versus the Rams, earning a 66 percent share of the offensive snaps on his way to one catch (on three targets) for eight yards. After Braunecker, J.P. Holtz (24 percent) and Bradley Sowell (three percent) played much smaller roles.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Gets the start
Braunecker hauled in one pass for eight yards in the Bears' 17-7 loss to the Rams on Sunday.
With Trey Burton (calf) on injured reserve and Adam Shaheen (foot) sidelined, Braunecker had his second-straight start and was targeted three times. With no Chicago tight end posting more than 24 yards in a game all season, even if Braunecker continues to start he'll be a low-upside fantasy option.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Posts first touchdown of season
Braunecker caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in Chicago's 20-13 win over the Lions on Sunday.
With Adam Shaheen inactive, Braunecker served as the primary blocking tight end. On Braunecker's touchdown, the coaching staff thought up a perfect play that left him isolated on the third-string free safety, and Mitchell Trubisky threw a perfect pass that allowed his tight end to find the end zone. This was just the second game all season in which he's caught a pass, making him a player who can't be trusted in fantasy lineups.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Posts 24-yard performance
Braunecker caught two passes for 24 yards in the Bears' 16-14 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.
With Chicago running many formations of multiple tight ends, Braunecker saw three targets while Trey Burton was eased back into the lineup as he recovers from offseason groin surgery. As Burton sees an increase in playing time, Braunecker will become the Bears' third-string tight end, which likely won't carry much fantasy value.
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Bears' Ben Braunecker: Inks two-year deal with Chicago
Braunecker signed a two-year contract with the Bears on Monday, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.
Braunecker has earned his keep as a special teams player and blocker over his three years with the Bears, but he's logged just seven receptions for 83 yards across that stretch. The 25-year-old will play a depth role behind Trey Burton (groin) and Adam Shaheen in 2019.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-3, 247 lbs |
| Birthplace: Jasper, IN, USA |
| Age: 30 |
| School: Harvard |
| Experience: 5 |