Veteran NFL linebacker and former Notre Dame star Manti Te’o could play for the Bears on Monday against the Rams.
The Bears signed him to their practice squad Tuesday, indicating he triumphed over Deonne Bucannon and Justin Phillips when the team had all three in for tryouts last week.
Te’o, 29, has not been on a roster this season. He played three games for the Saints last season, getting 34 snaps. The last time he was a regular starter was 2017, when he had 62 tackles and three pass breakups.
The Chargers drafted Te’o in the second round at No. 38 overall in 2013, and played four seasons with them before tearing his Achilles tendon in 2016. He had 221 tackles in 38 games, then debuted at middle linebacker for the Saints in 2017.
The NFL’s new pandemic-related rules allow teams to temporarily activate a practice squad player for game day, then return him to the practice squad. So even though Te’o isn’t on the active roster, he’ll be an option against the Rams.
