Not even twenty-four hours passed before the Chicago Bears re-signed defensive lineman Mike Pennel Jr. after releasing him on Friday afternoon. The Bears also elevated him to the active roster alongside offensive lineman, Dieter Eiselen.
Mike Pennel Jr.
When the Chicago Bears released Pennel Jr. on Friday, there wasn't a clear replacement in mind at the one-technique defensive tackle position. Apparently, Ryan Poles believes the 31-year-old veteran has a role in this defense.
With the new regime in Chicago comes an expected and lengthy roster evaluation. Poles isn't married to any of these players and has said from the beginning that he wants to build the best possible team regardless of their veteran status. If Ryan Poles changed his mind the day after releasing Pennel Jr., then it's likely we'll see some kind of rotation on the defensive line.
Head coach Matt Eberflus is not new to this concept and with the possibility of a revolving door of players, this could help the Bears build the best team possible. At the very least, Mike Pennel Jr. provides depth in case of injury as the NFL season begins.
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Dieter Eiselen
The Chicago Bears originally waived Dieter Eiselen prior to the roster deadline over a week ago. The 26-year-old from South Africa spent the last two seasons with the Bears but only appeared in three games total.
After signing to the Bears' practice squad, they elevated Eiselen to the active roster ahead of Sunday's matchup with the 49ers. With a designation for the guard position, Eiselen is another depth piece for the Bears that Ryan Poles clearly sees potential in.
Health and bodies on the field are the best abilities for the Chicago Bears as their season gets underway on Sunday.
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