Report: Bears to release Ted Ginn Jr.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears will release veteran wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. today.

Ginn was added to provide the Bears a deep threat, and he received the second most reps at receiver in their week one game opposite Allen Robinson, but once rookie Darnell Mooney showed he was the real deal, Ginn was relegated to the bench and made inactive the following week.

Once Tarik Cohen was injured, Ginn was used as their primary punt returner, but the 35-year old showed no desire to field the punts with only 5 punt returns for 24 yards and 1 fair catch in his five games back there.

With Ginn gone, expect practice squadder Dwayne Harris to be the full time punt returner and promoted at some point. In his lone game in that role last week he had 3 returns for 17 yards. He’s on the Bears protected practice squad list this week — along with quarterback Tyler Bray and nose tackle Daniel McCullers — so they could wait until next week to make him a full part of the 53.

Ginn’s release, along with the 2-game suspension from Javon Wims, should also clear a path for second year wide out Riley Ridley to be active.