It is always important to remember that what the Chicago Bears see on the practice field and in preseason games doesn't always match what fans and the media see. This is how players many didn't expect end up on the roster. That didn't really happen last year. Almost every name who cracked the roster wasn't a surprise, and those who came from the outside, like Dan Feeney and Trent Taylor. It appears that drought will be a short one according to two Bears insiders. It's time for fans to get to know Daniel Hardy.
Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic predict the defensive end has positioned himself for a spot on the final 53, but not for the reasons you think.
Defensive line (8)
Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson, Zacch Pickens, Daniel Hardy...
...Seeing Hardy on special teams in practice with some of the regulars feels like a good sign for him. So he takes the spot once held by Martin.
Daniel Hardy has always been a fascinating study.
He was a virtual nobody through the first three years of college at Montana State. Then, in 2021, he exploded for 16 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss. While he didn't receive an invite to the scouting combine, he shined at his pro day with a 4.60 in the 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical jump, and 22 reps on the bench press at 6'3, 240 lbs. It was enough to get him drafted in the 7th round by the Los Angeles Rams.
Draft experts felt he was raw and needed to add weight but had splashy upside. He got some snaps as a rookie but didn't have much of an impact. After that, he was cut at the end of training camp in 2023 before the Bears signed him to their practice squad. Daniel Hardy registered a QB pressure in the win over Houston last week. Combine this with the reported special teams work, and he's well-positioned to steal a spot as predicted.
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