With injuries thinning the receiving corps, Chicago secures a versatile playmaker. Ray-Ray McCloud brings return-game experience and depth at wide receiver.
Facing a growing number of injuries at wide receiver, the Chicago Bears signed veteran Ray-Ray McCloud on Monday following a workout that also included Julian Hicks, John Rhys Plumlee and Braylon Sanders.
The Bears also waived wide receiver Kyron Hudson with an injury designation.
McCloud is entering his ninth season in the NFL. The former sixth-round pick in 2018 played four games with the Atlanta Falcons last season before the team cut him in October. He then joined the New York Giants, playing in just two games. McCloud, 29, caught seven passes for 15 yards in 2025.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound receiver had his best season of his career in 2024, catching 62 passes for 686 yards and one touchdown in 17 regular-season games played for the Falcons.
He also brings experience as a punt and kick returner. McCloud has returned 140 punts for 1,326 yards and has another 126 kick returns for 2,890 yards.
Over the past two training camp practices at Halas Hall, the Bears have had two of their receivers go down with injuries. Luther Burden III strained his groin during a 1-on-1 rep against cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Burden will miss the preseason, but the Bears believe the second-year receiver will be ready to play for the Week 1 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Rookie Zavion Thomas injured his knee the following day in the Bears' 10th training camp practice on Sunday. ESPN's Courtney Cronin indicated that Thomas "isn't expected to miss much time" and is "dealing with soreness in his knee and is likely day-to-day in his recovery. He shouldn't be out long."
With the Bears losing two receivers before Saturday's first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field, it makes sense that the team would add more depth at the position. The Bears also have two joint practices scheduled with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans along with the games.
The Bears can't afford to overwork any of their pass catchers for the remainder of the summer, so adding a veteran like McCloud, who understands how to navigate training camp while providing quality reps, benefits the entire team.
Looking at last year's Bears team, six wide receivers made the 53-man roster. That could be the number that head coach Ben Johnson elects to keep on his roster this season.
- Rome Odunze
- Luther Burden III
- Kalif Raymond
- Jahdae Walker
- Zavion Thomas
Those five are locks to make the team, leaving potentially one spot up for grabs. McCloud will likely be competing with veterans Scotty Miller and Kaden Davis for the final spot if the Bears keep six receivers on the team this season.
