The Bears signed running back Zavier Scott to the active roster on Tuesday afternoon and released defensive back Nick McCloud in a corresponding move. Pro Football Talk and Yahoo Sports carried only the announcement of the pair of transactions. NFL Trade Rumors, via Tony Camino, added that Scott was promoted from the practice squad.

The McCloud timing is the notable part, and it comes from one source. A post on r/nfl from /u/Saca312 said Chicago cut the veteran just 10 days after signing him to the active roster. None of the other outlets gave that timeline, and none gave a reason for the move, so we won't guess at one. Our archive lists McCloud with 27 total tackles and no sacks in 2025.

Scott is 27. Per NFL Trade Rumors, he originally signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Maine in 2023 and was waived with an injury settlement as a rookie. The feed summary cuts off after that, so we don't have the rest of his path to Chicago.

He has already been on the field this season, though not as a runner. Our data credits Scott with 3 games played, 5 total tackles (2 solo, 3 assisted) and 2 forced fumbles for the Bears in 2026. That points to special teams or defensive work, and none of the reporting says what role he will have as a running back on the active roster.

The Bears are 5-2 and second in the NFC North, riding a two-game winning streak. They beat New England 30-24 on Thursday, Oct. 22, and Atlanta 31-23 on Oct. 18, after a 31-7 loss at Green Bay on Oct. 11. Scott's former club is struggling. The Colts are 2-5 and have lost three straight, most recently 16-10 at Minnesota on Oct. 25.

Chicago's next game is at Seattle on Monday, Nov. 2, the first chance to see how Scott fits into the active group.