Bears Promote OLB Josh Shirley From Their Practice Squad

According to Brad Biggs, the Bears have promoted OLB Josh Shirley from their practice squad to the active roster.

Biggs notes that Chicago is likely to be without LBs Leonard Floyd and Pernell McPhee for Week 17, so his addition brings depth to the team’s linebacker core.

Shirley, 24, originally signed on with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV back in May. However, he was among the Raiders’ final roster cuts at the start of the season.

Shirley later signed to the Raiders’ practice squad before joining the Buccaneers back in October. Tampa Bay later elected to cut him loose in December, but he wound up signing to the Raiders’ practice squad a few days later.

The Seahawks signed him to a future/reserve contract in January but unfortunately waived him a few weeks after this year’s draft. The Seahawks brought him back for a brief period before later cutting him loose.

In 2015, Shirley appeared in five games and recorded two tackles