Patrick

Scales

Scales, who signed a one-year deal with the Bears in March, will begin the regular season on injured reserve. The Bears are expected to sign long snapper Scott Daly to take Scales’ place for now.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added that the deal includes over $1 million in guaranteed money. Scales has appeared in every game for the Bears since 2016 and is currently the franchise’s longest-tenured player. One of the best snappers of long snaps in the long snapping business, Scales will remain in Chicago for yet another year.

Some snaps in football are required to travel a farther distance than regular snaps. These are called “long” snaps. Scales has been snapping the ball this longer distance in Chicago since 2015. Long may you snap, Patrick.

Snaps typically travel a short distance. Sometimes, however, they must be longer. Scales replaces the center when the Bears need the ball to go farther than it normally does.

An undrafted free agent last season, Scales survived until the Ravens’ final cuts. He’ll provide insurance for LS Morgan Cox in training camp.

Scales was signed just last month. A 2011 undrafted free agent, Scales has never appeared in an NFL game.

The Palm Beach Post’s Ben Volin speculates that Scales’ addition could jeopardize incumbent long snapper John Denney’s roster spot. Denney, 34, is owed nearly $1 million in 2013. Scales was among the Ravens’ final cuts last season.

Scales suffered the injury during Sunday’s preseason game, the same game in which Cameron Meredith tore his ACL. It is a tough break for Scales, who has snapped the snaps longer than other snappers for the Bears since 2015.

The former Utah State deep snapper has spent time with the Jets, Bucs, Ravens, and Dolphins over the past 24 months, but has never played in an NFL game.

Scales was signed on as the Ravens’ long snapper in mid-December.