The Bears continued the process of shedding their roster of unproductive and injured players as a prelude to the restart of their rebuilding process.
Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps were released Monday afternoon as the team announced it has terminated the contracts of the veterans.
It's an ongoing process for general manager Ryan Pace, who entered the day with more than $50 million in projected salary cap space. That figure climbs to more than $60 million with this latest moves as the Bears handle some more business before what projects to be a busy free-agent period beginning March 14.
McPhee, 29, was the first major free agent addition Pace made in 2015 but after a hot start in his first six games, injuries greatly diminished his ability and production. He began the 2016 season on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing microfracture knee surgery and then had arthroscopic knee surgery at the outset of training camp last summer, forcing him out for all of training camp and preseason. A shoulder injury forced him to injured reserve in December and the Bears are unlikely to pay him the $7.575 million he is owed this season. Releasing McPhee will create $7.075 million in cap space.
McPhee appeared in 13 games last season with five starts. He was credited with 20 tackles and four sacks.
Demps, who will turn 33 in June, was deemed expendable after free safety Eddie Jackson performed well as a rookie and Adrian Amos had his finest season. Demps was coming off a career-best season with the Texans when he made six interceptions when the Bears signed him but was limited to three games as he suffered a fractured left forearm. The Bears hoped Demps would return from injured reserve but nerve damage in his arm following surgery complicated matters and he wound up being shut down. He is owed nearly $3.6 million and releasing him will create $3.26 million in cap space.
The team's first moves became public last week when it was learned they informed left guard Josh Sitton they were declining the 2018 option in his contract. Sitton was due to earn $8 million this season. The Bears also terminated the contract of inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman to free up $3.5 million in cap space.
