Chicago Bears elevate Buddy Johnson, Zavier Scott for Thursday
The Chicago Bears announced on Oct. 22, 2026, that the club elevated linebacker Buddy Johnson and running back Zavier Scott from the practice squad for Thursday nights game against the New England Patriots. The moves are standard practice-squad gameday elevations. Under NFL rules, Johnson and Scott will revert to the Bears’ practice squad after the game.
Johnson made his first appearance this season in Chicagos Week 6 win over Atlanta and joined the Bears’ practice squad prior to the start of the regular season after participating in training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026. He entered the league as a fourth-round selection (140th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 NFL Draft and has appeared in 34 career regular-season games for the Steelers (2021), Dallas Cowboys (2023-25), Indianapolis Professional Football Team (2025) and the Bears (2026). Johnson also spent time on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad in 2022 and returned to Chicago after participating in the Bears’ 2023 training camp. Over six NFL seasons he has recorded 23 special teams tackles, including a career-high 11 in 2025 for the Indianapolis Professional Football Team.
Scott has appeared in two games this season, logging a forced fumble on kickoff coverage in last weeks victory over the Atlanta Falcons and securing four special teams tackles over the last four games, the most by any Bears special teams contributor. He joined Chicagos practice squad prior to the start of the regular season after spending training camp with the Minnesota Vikings. Scott entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Professional Football Team in 2023 and spent the majority of his rookie season on that clubs practice squad before signing to the Vikings’ practice squad prior to the 2024 regular season. He appeared in 16 games for Minnesota in 2025, rushing for 114 yards on 32 carries, adding 14 receptions for 98 yards and totaling 212 yards from scrimmage while also contributing on special teams. Scott capped his collegiate career at Maine (2020-22) after three seasons at UConn (2017-19) and earned All-Colonial Athletic Association recognition following his final season at Maine in 2022.
The Bears framed the moves as temporary elevations to provide gameday depth and special-teams support for the matchup against New England. Both players were promoted from the practice squad and will revert to the practice squad following the conclusion of Thursday nights game in accordance with league rules. The club announced the roster moves on Oct. 22, 2026.
NFL Sports Blog Take
These elevations reward recent special-teams production and add depth for the Bears on a short week. Johnson brings veteran special-teams experience and recent game action after appearing in Week 6. Scott has been productive on kickoff coverage this month, including a forced fumble and four special-teams tackles in the last four games. Both promotions are temporary under NFL gameday elevation rules and will revert to the practice squad after the game.