Bears released CB Terell Smith

We already knew Smith would miss the 2025 season, but this move makes it official. It’s a terribly unfortunate development for the talented former fifth-round pick. Additionally, the Bears waived LB Swayze Bozeman, OL Chris Glaser, TE Thomas Gordon, S Mark Perry and DB Jeremiah Walker.

The 2023 fifth-round pick has proven to be an exceptionally good depth piece thus far, posting PFF coverage grades (in a 584-snap sample size over two years) of 76.5 in 2024 and 65.4 in 2023. He’s mostly played as an outside corner. Chicago’s depth chart behind Tyrique Stevenson, Jaylon Johnson (also hurt) and Kyler Gordon is shaky enough that the team might pursue outside help at final cuts. Smith will be on the final year of his rookie deal in 2026.

Sweat popped up on the injury report with the ankle issue on Wednesday but was a full participant in practice by Friday. Fellow defensive lineman Zacch Pickens and defensive back Terell Smith are out this week.

A former track star who won the Georgia 100-meters championship with an incredible 10.39 time, Smith (6’0/205) has elongated 32.875” arms and a rocked-up frame that is befitting of a box safety. As a true freshman in 2019 he led the Gophers with nine PBU in addition to missing just three of 44 tackle attempts. Unfortunately, Smith played just 489 total snaps over the next three years due to injury until he finally stayed healthy in 2022, which allowed him to lead Minnesota in PBU for a second time. He ran a 4.41s 40 yard dash (91st percently) with a 1.50s 10-yard split (96th percentile) for a combined 8.67 relative athletic score. Aggressive at the line with the speed to play catchup when needed, Smith does a great job of using the sideline to his advantage, a skill he put to good use at the Shrine Bowl where he alerted scouts to his intriguing potential. He’ll join a Bears secondary that was among the worst in the NFL last season.