Lake Forest, IL – As expected, the Chicago Bears parted man limit.
The Bears signed Taylor to a four-year, $12.5 million contract prior to the 2010 season to split ball-carrying duties with Matt Forte, but the 31-year-old wound up as the clear second choice in the backfield after averaging a career- low 2.4 yards on 112 attempts.
Taylor struggled again during this preseason, rushing for just 37 yards on 16 carries over Chicago's four games, and was passed by free-agent addition Marion Barber on the depth chart.
Various media outlets had reported earlier in the week that Taylor was to be cut in advance of Tuesday's pairing to 80 players, but the Bears kept the nine-year pro around for Thursday's final preseason game presumably to showcase him for a possible trade. Taylor managed just 27 yards on 10 attempts in Chicago's 24-14 win over Cleveland.
The Bears also waived/injured veteran tight end Desmond Clark, who suffered a knee bruise in the team's third preseason contest, while rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas was placed on injured reserve Saturday due to a back problem. Thomas was a sixth-round pick by Chicago in this past April's draft.
Chicago also waived nine players -- wide receiver Kris Adams, defensive tackles Marcus Harrison and Jordan Miller, guard Ricky Henry, offensive tackle Levi Horn, running back Robert Hughes, tight end Andre Smith, linebacker Patrick Trahan and safety Anthony Walters -- on Saturday.
Harrison was a third-round selection of the Bears in 2008 who started nine times during his second season in the league, but was used sparingly last year and reported to this summer's camp out of shape.
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