Tyler

Scott

Scott is a former fourth-round draft pick by the Bears, tallying 18 receptions for 173 yards in two seasons with the team. He was the odd man out in the Chicago pass-catching group heading into the season and was released in August. Scott has bounced around the Colts and Seahawks since then and now joins the Rams practice squad with Tutu Atwell hitting injured reserve. CB Tre Brown was cut in a corresponding move.

The former Bears fourth-rounder will look to re-establish himself in what is a stacked Colts receiver room. Also joining the Colts practice squad are: LB Austin Ajiake, RB Ulysses Bentley IV, RB Khalil Herbert, T Marcellus Johnson, WR Tyler Kahmann, CB Chris Lammons, TE Maximilian Mang, DL Earnest Brown, TE Sean McKeon, DE Durrell Nchami, WR Coleman Owen, G Josh Sills, DT Josh Tupou, C Mose Vavao and S Trey Washington.

Scott was squeezed out of playing time in 2024 after the Bears brought in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, and further squeezed out of the picture this year by the additions of Luther Burden and Olamide Zaccheaus. He has 459 NFL snaps in two seasons and is only 24. Scott played 109 snaps this preseason and registered a 67.8 PFF offensive grade. Scott could catch eyes on the waiver wire.

The Bears only had two players on their injury report this week, and both were ruled out before Thursday. Desperately hoping to end their five-game losing streak, the Bears will have their work cut out for them against the one-loss Lions.

Scott also returned a kickoff for 24 yards, making a compelling case for one of the Bears’ backup wide receiver and special teams roles. He can be added as a dynasty bench stash, albeit by employing tempered expectations.

Picked by the Bears in the fourth round, Tyler Scott mostly operated as the fourth receiver in the offense as a rookie. His best game was a three-catch performance in Week 15, which amounted to 49 yards. Scott finishes the season with 18 receptions, 168 receiving yards, and no touchdowns. The Bears may have some moving parts on offense (including at quarterback) in the offseason, so Scott’s role is not yet set in stone. However, he was barely on the fantasy radar for 2023, and with DJ Moore and Cole Kmet still leading the way for Bears pass-catchers, Scott is a late-round dart throw at best for 2024.

Scott saw four targets as the Bears’ WR3 with Chase Claypool now out of Chicago. The rookie caught two of his targets and also drew a big 36-yard defensive pass interference late in the game. Scott is getting integrated into the Bears offense but is not yet fantasy relevant for a Week 7 showdown against the Raiders.

When Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was asked about Claypool being inactive on Sunday, he said, “We’re looking at all possibilities right now.” Claypool was widely criticized for his effort in Sunday’s loss to the Packers, and it appears that the concern is felt inside the Bears’ organization as well. If Claypool were to be inactive, that could mean a bigger role for Darnell Mooney and rookie Tyler Scott on Sunday against the Bucs.

Scott (5’10/177) was a high school running back recruited by numerous Power Five programs, but he ultimately opted to stay in Ohio and play for the Bearcats. He didn’t see much action as a freshman but got on the field more in his second season. Scott earned a full-time role in 2022 and posted a true breakout campaign with a 54-899-9 receiving line. Despite his size, Scott played primarily on the outside, beating corners with his route-running and blazing speed. Scott doesn’t have the physicality to consistently beat man coverage and also committed more than his fair share of drops. He only has two years of playing time as a receiver under his belt, so there’s more room for him to grow than most prospects. If he hits his ceiling, Scott could look something like T.Y. Hilton at the next level. Still only 21 years old, Scott is a projectable talent for the Bears’ improving receiver corps.

While Scott (5'11/177) is the lone underclassmen among Cincinnati’s starting wide receivers, with seniors Alec Pierce and Michael Young Jr. also atop the depth chart, that doesn’t mean he lacks for experience. As a freshman last season Scott appeared in ten games for the Bearcats, catching three passes for 20 yards and rushing for another 20 yards on one carry. While Pierce and Young stand to be QB Desmond Ridder’s top targets, Scott’s production should increase this fall.