The Chicago Bears elevated Buddy Johnson and Zavier Scott from the practice squad for Thursday night's game against the New England Patriots, giving the team two extra options for a game-day roster that changes only for tonight.
That is why Bears Game Tonight is drawing attention: the move is tied directly to Thursday night, and both players will revert back to the practice squad after the game under NFL regulation. Johnson, a linebacker, and Scott, a running back, were not added for a long-term reshuffle. They were brought up as standard gameday elevations, the kind clubs use when they want depth available without carrying a permanent roster change.
Johnson has already flashed in a limited role. He made his first appearance this season in Chicago's Week 6 win over Atlanta after joining the Bears' practice squad before the regular season, following training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026. His path has been a long one: a 2021 NFL Draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34 career regular-season games across the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Bears, plus two postseason appearances with Dallas in 2023. He has also made his living on special teams, with 23 special teams tackles in six NFL seasons and a career-high 11 in 2025 for Indianapolis.
Scott brings a different profile. He has appeared in two games this season and logged a forced fumble on kickoff coverage in last week's victory over the Falcons, while also collecting four special teams tackles over the last four games. He joined Chicago's practice squad before the season after training camp with the Minnesota Vikings, and his recent production suggests the Bears are counting on him first for coverage work and depth rather than a heavy offensive load. That fits the setup for these elevations: the club gets short-term insurance for Thursday night's game, then both players slide back where they started once the game ends.
For Chicago, the move keeps the roster flexible without changing the bigger picture. Johnson and Scott have already shown they can help in the margins, and Thursday night gives the Bears another chance to use that experience without making either elevation permanent.
