Chicago Bears Bring Orland Park's Schofield Back To Active Roster

ORLAND PARK, IL — Michael Schofield’s short tenure with the Chicago Bears has proven to be more off and on than anything else.

Now, at least for the time being, it is back on again for the veteran NFL offensive lineman and Orland Park native.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus announced on Wednesday that the team has re-signed Schofield after the team said Alex Leatherwood, who was signed at the end of training camp, will miss at least a month with a non-football injury.

That brought the Bears back to Schofield, who was signed to a one-year contract at the start of training camp. Schofield was expected to compete for a starting job but fell down the depth chart and then off the roster when the Bears made their final cuts.

The Bears initially signed Schofield to help bring younger offensive linemen along and to perhaps bolster an offensive line that struggled to protect quarterback Justin Fields last season. Schofield was among the final cuts at the end of training camp and did not sign with another team, which left the door open for him to return to the Bears.

Schofield's deal was reported to be for $1.12 million and represented an $895,000 salary cap hit for the Bears.

The Bears, coming off a rain-soaked 19-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers last weekend at Soldier Field, travel to Green Bay on Sunday night for a prime-time showdown with the archrival Packers.

Eberflus told reporters on Wednesday that he is optimistic that Leatherwood will make a full return.

“We feel great about where he is at and him coming back,” Eberflus said.