Orland Park's Michael Schofield Among Players Cut By Bears

ORLAND PARK, IL — Michael Schofield believed he had realized a lifelong dream when he signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears just before training camp started.

Now, as camp winds down and the Bears prepare for their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 11, the veteran offensive lineman and Orland Park native is no longer part of the team’s plans, the team confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

Schofield was among seven vested veterans who had their contracts terminated as the Bears begin to trim down their roster ahead of the season. The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero was the first person to announce the move.

Schofield agreed to a one-year contract with the Bears for a reported $1.12 million, NBC Sports Chicago reported last month. The deal was to have represented a $895,000 hit against the salary cap and included no guaranteed money, the report said.

Schofield, who signed with his hometown Bears after finishing a second stint with the Los Angeles Chargers, entered training camp hoping to compete for a starting job at right guard. The Bears brought the veteran in to help improve an offensive line that struggled a year ago in protecting quarterback Justin Fields.

Schofield started the preseason working with the first-team offensive line but was moved to a reserve role after that, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. Biggs tweeted Tuesday that the Bears have younger players in mind for reserve roles for their final 53-man roster.

Schofield told reporters last month after he signed the contract that he was excited about the chance to be part of a team hoping for a fresh start under first-year coach Matt Eberflus.

“It’s a dream come true for sure to play here. I’m definitely excited for the opportunity,” Schofield said. “It’s a young team, it’s an exciting team. I think we can do a lot of things.”

He added: “You always want an opportunity, you always want a chance.”

But the Bears are reportedly looking at moving Teven Jenkins to right guard, the spot that most felt Schofield was most fit for on the Bears line. The move comes after Jenkins appeared to be headed for the trade block before apparently settling into the team’s starting offensive line as the season opener approaches.