Bears sign wide receiver Rodney Adams

The Bears have signed wide receiver Rodney Adams, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday.

EDIT: The signing is now official with Artie Burns heading to injured reserve.

Adams, who turns 26 in September, was a fifth-round pick out of South Florida in the 2017 draft by the Vikings. He appeared in one game in his rookie season, spending most of the year on the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts during the 2018 offseason but was placed on the reserve/retired list that April. Adams spent the past two seasons out of football before getting reinstated in January of 2020. The Colts waived him earlier this month.

A standout on offense and special teams at South Florida, Adams finished with 112 catches, 1,644 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons. He also scored five touchdowns and had 236 yards on the ground in 2016. He contributed as a kick returner, as well, tallying 1,000 kick return yards and a touchdown with a 26.3 yards per return average in his final two seasons with the Bulls.

Adams was listed on the Bears’ personnel notice for having a tryout on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. While difficult to envision an active roster spot opening up for the wide receiver with Chicago’s crowded group at the position, he could be a name worth monitoring for a practice squad role.