National Football League

Inactive DE Grant released

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:17 p.m. ET

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The Bears released defensive end Charles Grant on Tuesday, spurring rumors because a roster spot opened just hours before the NFL's 3 p.m. trade deadline. But the deadline passed quietly.

The only trade had the Kansas City Chiefs shipping little-used defensive end Alex Magee to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The teams also swapped undisclosed 2011 draft picks.

The Bears signed Grant, the former New Orleans Saints standout who was playing for the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks, after releasing Mark Anderson two weeks ago. Grant was inactive for his only two games with the Bears.

The decision to release Grant was likely influenced by the emergence of second-year defensive lineman Henry Melton, who has been making the most of increased playing time, and rookie defensive end Corey Wootton, who made his NFL debut in a 23-6 victory Oct. 10 against the Carolina Panthers.

MENTAL MISTAKES

Coach Lovie Smith said the team's ongoing protection problems aren't the result of any specific detail he can pinpoint and correct. The Bears allowed six sacks Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

''We've had some mental mistakes,'' Smith said. ''Then it comes down to maybe [something] as simple as just blocking guys a little bit better, not turning a few guys loose, getting rid of the ball a little bit quicker. All of those things kind of add up. But to say it's just one thing, it would be hard for me to say that. We all had a part in what happened, and we'll continue to fix it with our 4-2 record.''

TURNER PROMOTED

The Bears elevated defensive end Barry Turner to the active roster from the practice squad.

An undrafted free agent from Nebraska, Turner had 115 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 17 sacks (eighth in school history) for the Cornhuskers.

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