Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 248 lbs |
| Birthplace: Jamestown, NY |
| Age: 29 |
| School: Princeton |
| Experience: 4 |
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Top Stephen Carlson News
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Stephen Carlson: Goes back to practice squad
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
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
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
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
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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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Elevated for Week 10
The Bears elevated Carlson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
It's the third and final time that Carlson can be elevated from the practice squad by the Bears this season, and he would have to be signed to active roster in order to continue to play for Chicago in 2025. He would serve as the Bears' TE3 behind Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland if Durham Smythe (calf) is unable to play against the Giants on Sunday.
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Stephen Carlson: Back with practice squad
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Placed on IR with collarbone injury
The Bears placed Carlson (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Carlson suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice session, just two days after being signed from the Bears' practice squad to the active roster. He'll be forced to miss at least the next four games, so the earliest Carlson can return is Week 9 against the Cardinals on Nov. 3.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Out for Week 4
Carlson suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Rams, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Carlson's injury happened while he was catching a pass on the final play of Thursday's session, and it sounds like he's looking at a multi-week recovery at the very least. He had just signed with the 53-man roster off the practice squad earlier in the week. Carlson played only one special teams snap for the Bears last season and otherwise hasn't appeared on offense in a regular-season contest since 2020 with Cleveland.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Moves to active roster
Carlson signed with the Bears' 53-man roster from their practice squad Tuesday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Carlson will take the spot of Travis Homer (finger) on Chicago's active roster. The 27-year-old appeared in one game for the Bears last season, playing a single special teams snap, which was his NFL game action since 2020 with the Browns.
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Stephen Carlson: Sticks around in Windy City
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
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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