Former Chiefs running back Spencer Ware signs with Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have signed Spencer Ware to the team’s practice squad.

The Chicago Bears have officially signed former Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware to the team’s practice squad, giving head coach Matt Nagy a familiar face to potentially utilize out of the backfield over the season’s final two weeks.

Ware has been with the Chiefs for almost his entire NFL career—for the better part of five full seasons with the team from 2014-19. This season, however, he’s been unable to find meaningful work despite some potential interest here and there. The Las Vegas Raiders hosted Ware for a visit earlier this month but he failed to earn a roster spot.

Ware, who recently turned 29 years old, first entered the National Football League as the sixth round selection of the Seattle Seahawks back in 2013 after playing collegiately at LSU (same as Darrel Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire). Ware was released in 2014 and would be unemployed for a few months before landing a reserve/futures deal with the Chiefs. From there, Ware would impress the Chiefs enough to climb the depth chart to eventual starter.

Over the course of 41 games (19 of which were starts), Ware had 354 carries for 1,621 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 64 catches for 698 receiving yards and another 2 touchdown receptions. That includes a full season lost in 2017 in which he was supposed to be the starter coming into the regular season. Unfortunately a season-ending injury would take that opportunity, and a rookie back named Kareem Hunt would steal the spotlight from his very first game.

Injuries have taken a significant toll on the Bears’ backfield this season, and there’s precious little depth behind starter David Montgomery. Artavis Pierce can step in, but the Washington Football Team recently signed away Lamar Miller from the team’s practice squad.