Another tremendously disappointing season for Bears tight end Adam Shaheen ended when the team put him on Injured Reserve on Saturday, which could mean he has already played his final game for the franchise. They also put special teams ace Sherrick McManis on IR with a groin injury.
Shaheen was the Bears’ second-round pick (45th overall) in 2017 and has yet to show he can be a productive player in the NFL. He has battled injuries throughout his three years with the team and has 26 catches in 27 career games.
He was a healthy scratch for the Nov. 10 game against the Lions and has been on the injury report with a foot issue since.
He has one season left at $1.9 million on his rookie deal, but the Bears can cut him for a dead salary cap hit of about $600,000.
McManis has been a special teams staple for years, shining as a gunner and being a dependable defensive back off the bench.
“Man, he’s one of the best in the game,” Bears returner and gunner Cordarrelle Patterson said this week. “We’ll never be able to make up for what Mc can do... If he’s out, it’s the next guy up and we just try to make up for it. But you could never replace that guy.
McManis has been with the Bears since they traded for him in 2012, but will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The Bears filled the vacant roster spots by signing tight end Eric Saubert and offensive lineman Corey Levin.
Saubert, 25, is in his third season after the Falcons drafted him in the fifth round. He had five catches for 48 yards in two seasons with Atlanta, was cut by the Patriots in the preseason this year and had been on the Raiders’ practice squad. He went to Drake after playing for Hoffman Estates High School.
Levin, a sixth-round pick by the Titans in 2017, can play guard or center. He began this season with the Broncos, then went to their practice squad in mid-September.
