Jedrick Wills Jr.’s attempt to restart his NFL career in Chicago has taken an unexpected turn.
The Chicago Bears are releasing Wills on Sunday, August 30, 2026, as the team makes its final roster cuts ahead of the regular season.
The 27-year-old offensive tackle arrived in Chicago hoping to compete for a starting job after spending the entire 2025 season away from football.
Instead, his stint with the Bears is ending before Week 1.
Wills had been part of a crowded competition at left tackle throughout training camp, but Chicago ultimately decided not to include the former Cleveland Browns first-round pick on its initial 53-man roster.
The timing explains the sudden increase in searches for Jedrick Wills on Sunday as NFL teams make some of their most consequential personnel decisions of the year.
Chicago Moves On From Wills
Wills entered training camp with a legitimate opportunity.
The Bears did not have a completely settled situation at left tackle, and their initial depth chart listed Wills, Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie as first-team options at the position.
That gave the veteran a chance to revive a career that had been disrupted by injuries.
During Chicago’s preseason game against Cleveland, Wills and Amegadjie split much of the work at left tackle.
Amegadjie played 34 offensive snaps while Wills played 30.
Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor acknowledged afterward that both players had shown positive traits but indicated the competition remained unresolved.
As preseason continued, however, Wills was unable to separate himself enough to secure a roster spot.
Chicago has now decided to move forward without him.
From No. 10 Overall Pick to Another Career Crossroads
The significance of Sunday’s move becomes clearer when looking at where Wills’ NFL career started.
Cleveland selected him 10th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after his college career at Alabama.
He wasn’t drafted as a developmental project.
The Browns expected him to become a cornerstone of their offensive line.
And initially, Wills appeared capable of doing exactly that.
He started 15 games during his rookie season and became Cleveland’s regular left tackle despite playing primarily on the right side at Alabama.
Over his first three NFL seasons, Wills started 45 games.
His trajectory changed as injuries began taking away playing time.
Injuries Disrupted His Final Years in Cleveland
Wills’ availability became an increasing problem during the latter portion of his Browns career.
A knee injury limited him to eight games during the 2023 season.
Cleveland had already exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, keeping him with the team for 2024, but his difficulties continued.
Wills appeared in only five games during the 2024 season and made four starts.
By then, the former top-10 draft pick had gone from being Cleveland’s long-term answer at left tackle to facing uncertainty about his NFL future.
His Browns tenure ended after the season.
Then came an even longer absence.
Wills did not play during the entire 2025 NFL season while addressing health issues.
That made Chicago’s decision to sign him in 2026 particularly intriguing.
It represented a comeback opportunity.
The Bears Gave Wills Another Shot
Chicago signed Wills to a one-year contract this offseason and placed him directly into its tackle competition.
At 6-foot-4 and more than 300 pounds, he still possessed the physical profile of an NFL offensive tackle.
He also had something several players competing with him couldn’t match: substantial starting experience.
But there was an obvious question.
What version of Jedrick Wills would Chicago get after a full year away from football?
Training camp provided the opportunity to answer it.
The Bears rotated several players through the tackle competition, and Wills received preseason snaps as coaches evaluated their options.
By late August, however, reports surrounding Chicago’s offensive line suggested the former Browns starter had not taken control of the job.
The Bears now appear to have reached their conclusion.
Why Are the Bears Cutting Players Today?
Wills isn’t the only player whose future is being decided Sunday.
NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on August 30.
That creates a wave of transactions across the league as teams release veterans, waive younger players and make final decisions following training camp and preseason games.
Chicago entered the day needing to make dozens of moves.
The Bears have also been cutting players at other positions while constructing the roster they intend to take into the regular season.
Wills became one of the more recognizable names caught in the process because of his draft pedigree and previous experience as a starter.
What Happens to Jedrick Wills Now?
Being released does not necessarily mean Wills’ NFL career is over.
Because he is a veteran with enough accrued NFL seasons, he can become an unrestricted free agent rather than being subject to the standard waiver process applied to less-experienced players.
That potentially allows another team to sign him directly.
Offensive tackle is also a position where injuries and depth problems can quickly create opportunities.
Teams frequently reassess their offensive lines once final roster cuts are completed, and additional openings can emerge during the regular season.
Wills’ experience could therefore attract interest from a team looking for veteran depth.
The bigger question will be whether another organization believes the former first-round pick can regain enough of his earlier form to contribute.
For now, there is no confirmed next destination.
A Comeback That Never Reached Week 1
When Chicago signed Wills, the move offered him something he badly needed: another chance.
He had gone from a top-10 draft selection and multi-year NFL starter to missing an entire season.
The Bears offered an opportunity to change that trajectory.
For several weeks, Wills competed for playing time at one of Chicago’s least-settled offensive line positions.
But NFL roster decisions can be unforgiving.
By Sunday afternoon, the comeback attempt had reached another crossroads.
Jedrick Wills is leaving Chicago before playing a regular-season game for the Bears.
Whether another NFL team provides the 27-year-old with his next opportunity now becomes the story to watch.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available reports concerning the Chicago Bears’ roster moves on August 30, 2026. NFL roster transactions can develop quickly during final cutdown day, and players who are released may subsequently sign or re-sign with teams. Additional information may become available as transactions are officially processed.