The Monsters of the Midway were considered awfully deep at the linebacker position heading into training camp, which is why a veteran and special-teams ace like Darrell McClover had little chance to make the 53-man roster.

However, with Brian Urlacher on injured reserve due to a dislocated wrist, Pisa Tinoisamoa missing two games with a sprained knee and Hunter Hillenmeyer unable to finish Sunday's contest with the Seahawks, McClover was signed Tuesday and will likely be active Sunday against the Lions. Always considered a core contributor by special teams coordinator Dave Toub, McClover has appeared in 28 games for the Bears over the course of three seasons and registered 36 special-teams stops. The former Miami Hurricane was originally a seventh-round pick of the Jets in the 2004 NFL Draft.

To make room for McClover on the roster, the Midway Monsters released first-year corner DeAngelo Smith.