Stephen Carlson - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Gets added to Bears' practice squad Chicago signed Carlson to its practice squad Monday.

Impact The Bears released Carlson on Sunday, opting to keep only three healthy tight ends on their initial 53-man roster for 2026. He appeared in two regular-season games with Chicago in 2025 but did not register any targets.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Signs future deal with Chicago The Bears signed Carlson to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Impact With a future contract, Carlson will be on the Bears' 90-man roster when the offseason begins Feb. 9 and will be eligible to participation in offseason programs such as OTAs and minicamp. The Princeton product spent the entire 2025 campaign on the Bears' practice squad and appeared in two regular-season games, though he did not record a catch across those two contests.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Back to practice squad Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Impact Carlson was elevated to the Bears' active roster Saturday, but he was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Giants after Durham Smythe was cleared to play through a calf injury. It was Carlson's third elevation of the season, which means he would have to be signed to Chicago's active roster in order to continue to play in the Windy City.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated for Week 10 The Bears elevated Carlson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Impact It's the third and final time that Carlson can be elevated from the practice squad by the Bears this season, and he would have to be signed to active roster in order to continue to play for Chicago in 2025. He would serve as the Bears' TE3 behind Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland if Durham Smythe (calf) is unable to play against the Giants on Sunday.

NOVEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back with practice squad Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Impact Carlson was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Ravens, failing to record any stats while playing four snaps on offense and seven snaps with the special-teams unit. The tight end finished third in offensive snaps behind Colston Loveland (51) and Durham Smythe (20) at his position, and if Cole Kmet (back) remains out in Week 9, Carlson could be elevated again prior to the team's matchup with the Bengals.

OCTOBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Bears place cornerback Kyler Gordon, left tackle Braxton Jones on injured reserve

Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon and left tackle Braxton Jones will miss at least the next four games after the team placed them on injured reserve

OCTOBER 25, 2025 • Associated Press

Elevated Saturday Carlson was elevated to the Bears' active roster Saturday, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.

Impact The 28-year-old's elevation provides Chicago with depth at tight end, as Cole Kmet (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Ravens. Carlson played in the Bears' Week 4 win over the Raiders, failing to record an offensive stat across 15 total snaps (10 on offense, five on special teams). He's likely to have a depth role in Chicago's tight-end corps, playing behind Colston Loveland and Durham Smythe.

OCTOBER 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Reverts to practice squad Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Impact Carlson made his 2025 regular-season debut in the Bears' Week 4 win over the Raiders due to the absence of Colston Loveland (hip). Carlson played a total of 15 snaps (10 on offense, five on special teams) without otherwise showing up on the box score. Loveland will have additional time to recover from his injury thanks to the Week 5 bye, so Carlson will likely remain on the practice squad for the Bears' Week 6 clash against the Commanders on Monday, Oct. 13.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

With TE Colston Loveland injured, Bears elevate Stephen Carlson from practice squad for Raiders game The team also signed linebacker Carl Jones to the active roster and promoted defensive lineman Jonathan Ford.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 • SUNTIMES.COM

Elevated Saturday The Bears elevated Carson from their practice squad to active roster Saturday.

Impact With Colston Loveland (hip) expected to miss Chicago's Week 4 matchup against the Raiders, Carlson adds depth to the team's tight end corps. The 28-year-old from Princeton last played for the Bears in 2023, appearing in one game and logging one special-teams snap.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Bears Carlson signed to Chicago's practice squad Wednesday.

Impact The tight end was released Tuesday after falling short of the Bears' 53-man roster, though he stuck with the team after clearing waivers. Carlson missed the whole 2024 regular season with a collarbone injury and appeared on just one special-teams snap during the 2023 campaign. He last saw extended action in 2019 and '20 with Cleveland, though he only has six career catches for 62 yards.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Released by Bears Chicago released Carlson on Tuesday.

Impact Carlson is healthy after having missed all of the 2024 season due to a collarbone injury, but he's now among a number of cuts made by the Bears to get down to a 53-man roster. The 28-year-old will likely look to resurface on a practice squad, whether with the Bears or elsewhere in the league.

AUGUST 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHT: Stephen Carlson rumbles for 36-yard catch-and-run Bears tight end Stephen Carlson picks up 36 yards.

AUGUST 23, 2025 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM

Back in Chicago The Bears re-signed Carlson (collarbone) on Friday, Brendan Sugrue of USA Today reports.

Impact Carlson missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a serious collarbone injury sustained back in September, after having begun the season on the practice squad. He only appeared in one game with Chicago in 2023, playing one snap on special teams. Carlson figures to be fully healthy by the start of training camp, at which point he could get a chance to compete for a greater depth role behind Cole Kmet and Durham Smythe.

MARCH 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Set for free agency Carlson (collarbone) was placed on injured reserve on September 28 and didn't play a snap for the Bears in 2024.

Impact Carlson has played one special-teams snap over four seasons since posting 333 receiving yards in 2020. The 28-year-old tight end is now an unrestricted free agent.

JANUARY 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on IR with collarbone injury The Bears placed Carlson (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Carlson suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice session, just two days after being signed from the Bears' practice squad to the active roster. He'll be forced to miss at least the next four games, so the earliest Carlson could return would be Week 9 against the Cardinals on Nov. 3.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out for Week 4 Carlson suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Rams, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

Impact Carlson's injury happed while catching a pass on the final play of Thursday's session, and it sounds like he's looking at a multi-week recovery at the very least. He had just signed with the 53-man roster off the practice squad earlier in the week. Carlson played only one special teams snap for the Bears last season and otherwise hasn't appeared on offense in a regular-season contest since 2020 with Cleveland.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to active roster Carlson signed with the Bears' 53-man roster from their practice squad Tuesday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Carlson will take the spot of Travis Homer (finger) on Chicago's active roster. The 27-year-old appeared in one game for the Bears last season, playing a single special teams snap, which was his NFL game action since 2020 with the Browns.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sticks around in Windy City Carlson signed with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Carlson appeared in one regular-season game for the Bears in 2023 and spent most of the year on the taxi squad. He was gunning for a spot on Chicago's 53-man roster during training camp, but he wasn't able to do so after finishing the preseason with five catches (on six targets) for 36 yards. Carlson could be promoted to the active roster during the upcoming season should Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett or Marcedes Lewis miss time.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Released by Chicago The Bears released Carlson on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Impact The 27-year-old tight end bounced between the practice squad and active roster with Chicago last season but appeared in just one game. He hasn't caught a regular-season pass since 2020 with the Browns and has just six career grabs for 62 yards and one touchdown.

AUGUST 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gets reserve/future contract The Bears signed Carlson to a reserve/future contract Monday, Larry Mayer of the team's official website reports.

Impact Carlson spent most of the season on Chicago's practice squad, but he only saw the field in one game. He played one special teams snap (four percent) in Week 10 versus the Panthers. The 27-year-old will now attempt to put the work in during the offseason to ultimately earn a spot on the Bears' roster in the 2024 campaign.

JANUARY 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not tendered by Cleveland Carlson (knee) became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday after the Browns opted not to tender him a contract for 2022, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Carlson sat out the 2021 campaign after requiring season-ending knee surgery in late August. He appeared in all 16 games during 2020 and caught one pass for 11 yards.

MARCH 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Browns add WR Cooper, release Landry at start of free agency

After a disappointing 2021 season, the Browns head into free agency looking to plug holes — some bigger than others

MARCH 10, 2022 • Associated Press

Reverts to IR Carlson (knee) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

Impact Carlson will now be able to rejoin the team, but he'll remain on injured reserve after he underwent season-ending knee surgery in mid-August. The 25-year-old had a strong performance in camp and could compete for a 53-man roster spot in 2022.

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on COVID-19 list Carlson (knee) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Impact It's not yet clear whether Carlson has tested positive for the virus or whether he's considered a close contact. However, Monday's move doesn't impact the 24-year-old's status since he underwent season-ending knee surgery in mid-August.

DECEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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Bears place cornerback Kyler Gordon, left tackle Braxton Jones on injured reserve

Browns add WR Cooper, release Landry at start of free agency