Bears Releasing DE Jamree Kromah to Clear Roster Spot for Jeffery Simmons
Chicago had to open a spot for its new All-Pro defensive tackle, and a young edge rusher who'd just started earning snaps is the odd man out
The Bears are releasing defensive end Jamree Kromah to make room on the 53-man roster for Jeffery Simmons, Jordan Schultz reported Thursday.
It's the cost of this week's blockbuster with the Titans. Chicago sent two first-round picks to Tennessee for the All-Pro defensive tackle, and someone on the defensive line had to go.
Sources: The #Bears are releasing DE Jamree Kromah. The 26-year-old was a preseason star and one of Chicago’s highest-graded defenders in each of the last two weeks. However, the Bears needed the roster spot after trading for Jeffery Simmons.View on X →
Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report): Sources: The #Bears are releasing DE Jamree Kromah. The 26-year-old was a preseason star and one of Chicago’s highest-graded defenders in each of the last two weeks. However, the Bears needed the roster spot after trading for Jeffery Simmons.
Kromah, 26, is an undrafted free agent out of James Madison who first signed with Chicago in 2024 and spent most of his time since on practice squads. He broke through this summer, posting three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the preseason, including two sacks against the Browns. That earned him a roster spot, but regular-season snaps were scarce: he's appeared in two games and has two tackles, both in the Week 7 win over the Patriots. Schultz noted he graded out among Chicago's best defenders over the last two weeks.
The timing stings for Kromah, who was just starting to carve out a role. But Chicago's edge rotation behind Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo didn't need to keep him over a player of Simmons' caliber. Simmons joins Grady Jarrett on the interior, and he's expected to be in uniform Monday night against the Seahawks.
Without four accrued seasons, Kromah will go through waivers, so any team can claim him. If he clears, the Bears could try to bring him back on the practice squad.