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G Dan Buenning
C Donovan Raiola
FB Jason Davis
DE Joe Clermond
WR Eric Peterman
CB Rod Hood
WR Brandon Rideau
LB Kevin Malast
LB Darrell McClover
LB Mike Rivera
LB Marcus Freeman
G Johan Asiata

NoSkyy wrote:Willing to bet Freeman makes the Practice squad. Just too many good linebackers on this team. I'm surprised Mcclover(haha...I wrote Mclover) got cut, we just brought him back.

Bears inform G Johan Asiata that he will be released. He has a chance to return on the practice squad.

SportsWorld wrote:BradBiggs

Bears inform G Johan Asiata that he will be released. He has a chance to return on the practice squad.

CjayC wrote:Bears are keeping 4 TE's surprisingly.

I'm guessing they may be prepping for Clark's retirement sooner than I thought, and they don't want to risk another team swiping Gaines off of their practice squad

The Bears have made it official with a series of moves today to reach the 53-man roster limit before proceeding to the start of the 2009 season. The players will get back to work with practice Monday at Halas Hall. Here are the moves reported on the team's Web site:

CB Charles Tillman was promoted from the physically unable to perform list to the active roster

RB Kevin Jones was placed on inured reserve with a torn ligament in his left ankle

DE Henry Melton was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury

S Dahna Deleston was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury

Melton's ankle injury was not believed to be serious and it could be a way to stash the fourth-round pick from Texas on the squad for a year. The problem is he cannot practice while on IR so the only work he can do is in the classroom and weight room. This marks the third time in four years the Bears have placed at least one draft pick on IR prior to the opening of the season. It could be concerns about depth on the interior of the line cost him a spot as the Bears kept tackle Matt Toeaina, who right now figures to be third in the rotation at nose tackle.

Here are the official cuts:

QB Brett Basanez
FB Jason Davis
FB Will Ta'ufo,ou
WR Eric Peterman
WR Brandon Rideau
G Johan Asiata
OT Cody Balogh
G Dan Buenning
C Donovan Raiola
DE Ervin Baldwin
DE Joe Clermond
LB Marcus Freeman
LB Kevin Malast
LB Darrell McClover
LB Mike Rivera
CB Rudy Burgess
CB Rod Hood
CB Marcus Hamilton
CB Woodny Turenne

Michael Gaines remains as a fourth tight end and an H-back capable of filling in at fullback if something happens to Jason McKie. The Bears are clearly concerned about depth on the defensive line and in the secondary where they went nearly all of training camp and preseason without their starting cornerbacks. They devoted nearly 38 percent of the roster to the line and defensive backfield.

The Bears will start the season with two quarterbacks on the active roster after informing Brett Basanez of his release. Basanez expects to remain on the team's practice squad.

"I'm obviously disappointed not to be on the active roster,'' Basanez said. ``Chicago usually keeps three, and Ron (Turner) said it would only be two this year. But it's also promising because they obviously liked me enough to keep me around (on the practice squad). Plus I'm home. I'm still a part of the team.''

The Northwestern and St. Viator grad intends to sign his practice squad contract Sunday if he clears waivers.

"I'll still be the No. 3 guy, basically," Basanez said. "Because of injuries or whatever, they needed to keep more guys on defense. I understand that."