Ben

Braunecker

The Bears still have approximately one million tight ends on the roster. Braunecker only totaled 13 receptions across four NFL seasons in Chicago after entering the NFL Draft as a Harvard alum. He’ll likely receive one more chance to crack an active roster, particularly with the coronavirus potentially opening up more opportunities for in-season call ups.

Braunecker is now the third Bears TE to land on the injured reserve, joining Trey Burton (calf) and Adam Shaheen (foot). Braunecker worked as the Bears’ featured TE in Weeks 11 and 12, but he’ll miss the remainder of the season. The Bears will move forward with J.P. Holtz, Bradley Sowell and Jesper Horsted as their top TEs.

The Bears utilized a number of complementary options in Week 14 with Braunecker and Taylor Gabriel (concussion, out) sidelined. J.P. Holtz (52% snaps) and Bradley Sowell (3%) lost plenty of reps to the likes of Jesper Horsted (47%), Riley Ridley (40%) and Cordarrelle Patterson (15%). None of these players are realistic fantasy options this week.

Jesper Horsted and J.P. Holtz will handle tight end duties again this week after Horsted reeled in a nice touchdown grab last Thursday in Detroit.

Converted Princeton wideout Jesper Horsted (1/18/1) luck-boxed a touchdown on seven snaps against the Lions on Thanksgiving while J.P. Holtz stayed glued to the field as the team’s primary inline blocking option. Horsted has touchdown upside in dynasty formats if Braunecker misses his second straight contest, but his bottom-dwelling usage removes him as a serious streaming option even if ‘Braunk’ is sidelined.

Braunecker has six catches for 59 yards and a score this season and is only remotely notable because the Bears are now down to their Nos. 4 and 5 TEs Jepser Horsted and J.P. Holtz. Adam Shaheen is out and Trey Burton is on I.R.

Burton was targeted once before leaving in the fourth quarter. With Adam Shaheen a healthy scratch, look for Ben Braunecker to soak up most of the snaps at tight end.

Braunecker was a restricted free agent, but the Bears are bringing him back on a two-year deal for likely less than the lowest tender. With Dion Sims gone, Braunecker could carve out a role behind Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen.

Braunecker received the largest signing bonus ($10,000) in the Bears’ undrafted rookie class and posted the top SPARQ score among Combine invitees in this year’s tight end group. He averaged 17.7 yards per catch in his final year at Harvard. Nicknamed “Bronk,” Braunecker reportedly made “some nifty catches downfield” in OTAs and showed “good speed and hands.” Braunecker is worth rostering in deep Dynasty leagues behind shaky starter Zach Miller, who was out of football 2012-2014 and turns 32 in October.

Braunecker is a second-year UDFA out of Harvard. He’s taking Zach Miller’s roster spot. Braunecker actually appeared in 13 games as a rookie, catching four passes. He snagged two this preseason. Even considering the sorry state of the Bears’ pass catchers, Braunecker is unlikely to tally receptions with any regularity.