With so many injuries in the secondary and a need for fresh bodies heading into Week 2's matchup with the Super Bowl champion Steelers, the Bears made a waiver claim Thursday and also said goodbye to a former draft choice.

The newest Monster of the Midway is cornerback DeAngelo Smith, who was originally a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys this past April. The 5-11, 197-pounder was let go by Dallas before signing with Cleveland, although the Browns then waived him Wednesday. According to coach Lovie Smith following practice Thursday, the Bears worked the former Louisville Cardinal out before the draft and may ask him to participate right away on special teams.

To make room on the 53-man roster, third-year corner Trumaine McBride was waived/injured, meaning Chicago can add him to its injured reserve list provided he clears waivers. A Round-7 selection back in 2007, McBride actually started nine games as a rookie after veteran Nathan Vasher went down with a bum hamstring. But he has since been leap-frogged on the depth chart by fellow youngsters Zack Bowman and Corey Graham, so he was deemed expendable for 2009 after sustaining a sprained knee in the season opener at Green Bay.

While the Cowboys entertained the idea of moving Smith to safety because of his size, the Bears will keep him at corner since their Cover-2 system is built for bigger players at that position.