Bears To Sign S Duron Harmon Off Ravens’ Practice Squad

Duron Harmon joined the Ravens’ practice squad in a bid to find playing time in 2023. Rather than doing so in Baltimore, however, he is set to see the field in Chicago.

The Bears are expected to sign Harmon to their active roster, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The team had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move will be required. Harmon will give Chicago a needed depth option in the secondary, a unit which has been hit hard by injuries early in the season.

Safety Eddie Jackson was among the many defensive backs who missed the Bears’ Week 4 loss, and his availability for the team’s upcoming Thursday night game is in question. The same is true for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, whose absence on Sunday compounded that of Kyler Gordon and Josh Blackwell, both of whom are on injured reserve. The Bears signed former Viking Joejuan Williams last week to help their thin CB room.

Harmon could have seen time on the Ravens’ active roster (at least as a gameday elevation for a limited time) given Baltimore’s own injury troubles on the back end. Starting safety Marcus Williams suffered a pectoral injury in Week 1, and he has not seen the field since then. The 2022 free agent addition has elected to forego surgery, though, meaning he avoided an IR stint and is on track to return at some point in the campaign.

In Williams’ absence, special teamer Daryl Worley – who has seen time on and off Baltimore’s practice squad – was added to the Ravens’ active roster last month. The former Raiders starter suffered an injury in Week 4, however, which could leave Baltimore without much in the way of depth behind Kyle Hamilton and Geno Stone for the time being. It will be interesting to see if they make a taxi squad addition in Harmon’s absence.

The latter is best known for his tenure with the Patriots, a seven-year stretch which saw him win three Super Bowls. He has since had one-year stints with the Lions, Falcons and Raiders, logging over 1,000 snaps in each season. Harmon will likely have a path to immediate playing time in Chicago if he is able to suit up in time for the Bears’ next attempt to secure their first win of the campaign.