Bears Suddenly Release Starting DB Before Falcons Game

The Chicago Bears released veteran defensive back Xavier Woods on Saturday as part of a series of roster moves ahead of their Week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced.

The 3-2 Bears activated cornerback Kyler Gordon from the Reserve/PUP list, signed defensive back Nick McCloud to the active roster from the practice squad, and placed defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo on injured reserve.

They also elevated linebacker Buddy Johnson and running back Zavier Scott from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest.

Woods, a 31-year-old safety, joined the Bears in early August after injuries depleted the secondary, including an issue with free-agent addition Coby Bryant.

The Louisiana Tech product brought substantial experience, entering the season with 121 career starts across stints with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Tennessee Titans.

He recorded 15 career interceptions and over 650 tackles in his career before arriving in Chicago.

In his brief tenure with the Bears, Woods appeared in four games and started two of them. He was inactive for the Week 1 win over his former team, the Panthers, due to a groin injury but returned the following week.

Across his appearances, he contributed 12 tackles and one fumble recovery, including a five-tackle effort in the Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was listed as a first-string safety on the team’s depth chart in early October alongside rookie Dillon Thieneman.

The moves clear roster space for Gordon’s return. The former second-round pick and slot corner missed training camp, the preseason, and the first four games of the regular season with a calf injury after dealing with soft-tissue issues that limited him to just three games in 2025.

Gordon has been practicing and was activated in time for the road game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Odeyingbo’s placement on IR further thins the defensive front, compounding the absence of Montez Sweat, who is serving a suspension.

The Bears enter Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET matchup on FOX against the 2-3 Falcons with the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack, averaging 173.2 yards per game. Atlanta counters with a strong ground game of its own, led by Bijan Robinson.

Woods’ release ends a short-term stopgap role for the veteran, who provided depth and starting experience during a period of secondary uncertainty.

With Gordon now available and McCloud added, Chicago’s defensive backfield gains a familiar piece as it looks to bounce back from last week’s loss at Green Bay.

The Falcons game marks a key early-season test for both clubs’ run-oriented offenses.