Byard (shoulder) was a full participant in Friday's practice and does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Byard injured his shoulder during the Bears' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Lions, though he managed to rack up 10 tackles (five solo) and one pass defense while playing every single defensive snap. He was limited in the first two practices this week, but he finished strong with a full showing Friday and will be good to go Sunday. In the six games since the Bears' Week 7 bye, Byard totaled 55 tackles (30 solo), including 1.0 sacks, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Remains hot
Rotowire
Byard tallied 10 tackles (five solo) and a pass defensed in the Bears' 23-20 loss to the Lions on Thursday.
Byard has averaged nine tackles over the last four games after failing to surpass seven tackles in all but one game through Week 9. With a full month of strong tackle totals, the safety has turned into one of the top IDPs at defensive back.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Big tackle numbers
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Byard tallied nine stops in the Bears' 20-19 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
After recording between five and seven tackles in six consecutive games, Byard has 20 tackles over the last two games. This is the first time all season the safety has stacked big games together. Although it's possible this recent level of production continues, it may still be wise to view Byard as a solid floor IDP with upside.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Double-digit tackles in loss
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Byard recorded 11 tackles in the Bears' 19-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Byard had posted between five and seven stops in each of Chicago's previous six games before his big game against the Patriots. Expect the safety to continue functioning as a high-floor IDP with occasional upside games.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Strong performance in defeat
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Byard tallied eight tackles and a sack in the Bears' 29-9 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
Byard has recorded between five and eight stops in each of his last six games. The veteran has emerged as a solid-floor IDP option.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Solid in blowout win
Rotowire
Byard recorded seven tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed during Sunday's 35-16 win against the Jaguars.
Byard's pass breakup probably saved a touchdown, and he now has at least six tackles in each of his last five games. He's on pace for the third 100-tackle season of his career heading into the Bears' bye in Week 7.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Picks off pass
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Byard intercepted a pass and tallied six tackles in the Bears' 36-10 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Byard has recorded at least six tackles in each of his last four games, though he's gone over seven stops just once. He remains a high-floor IDP option.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Active versus Rams
Rotowire
Byard (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Byard was initially listed as questionable to suit up versus Los Angeles, but he's managed to gain clearance for Week 4. The starting safety has played 100 percent of defensive snaps in each of Chicago's first three regular-season contests, recording 19 tackles (12 solo) and one fumble recovery in that span.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Listed questionable for Week 4
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Byard (back) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Byard was a mid-week addition to the injury report Thursday, failing to practice that day, but he was upgraded to limited Friday and will head into Sunday's date as a question mark. The veteran safety has started all three games to open the season, recording 19 tackles (12 solo) and one fumble recovery on 100 percent of the defensive snaps.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Nursing back injury
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Byard (back) did not participate in Thursday's practice session.
Byard was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, but he appears to have picked up a back injury. Friday's final report will provide further context regarding his availability for Sunday's game against the Rams. If Byard isn't able to suit up, Jonathan Owens figures to be the next man up as the starting free safety alongside strong safety Jaquan Brisker.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Big game in defeat
Rotowire
Byard tallied 11 tackles (seven solo) in the Bears' 19-13 loss to the Texans on Sunday.
Byard tied Tremaine Edmunds for the team lead in tackles against Houston. Over the last four seasons, Byard has posted at least 100 tackles, and this performance puts the safety on pace for that level of production after he recorded just two stops in the season opener.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Returns to practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Byard (undisclosed) was not listed on Chicago's injury report Wednesday.
Byard was forced to miss practices for the first time in his NFL career due to what was diagnosed as a soft-tissue injury in mid-August. He appears to be fully healthy and ready to go for Week 1 against the Titans -- who drafted him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft -- on Sunday.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: In line to start at free safety
Rotowire
The Bears signed Byard to a two-year deal in March with the likely intention of replacing Eddie Jackson, whom the Bears released in February.
Between the Titans and Eagles last season, the veteran recorded a career-high 122 tackles in 16 regular-season games. Heading into his age-31 season in 2024 and having averaged over 100 tackles since 2020, Byard should be in line to continue piling up solid tackle totals, making him a valuable IDP option.
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Bears' Kevin Byard: Finds work in Chicago
Rotowire
Byard and the Bears agreed Sunday on a two-year, $15 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In Chicago, Byard should settle in as the team's starting free safety as a replacement for Eddie Jackson, whom the Bears released in February. Between stops with the Titans and Eagles last season, Byard recorded a career-high 122 tackles in 16 games, but the historically ball-hawking defensive back recorded just two turnovers (one interception, one fumble recovery). Heading into his age-31 season in 2024, Byard's best years are most likely behind him, but his addition should still help bolster a Bears secondary that was often leaky in 2023.
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Kevin Byard: Being released by Eagles
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Philadelphia plans to release Byard in a move that frees up over $13 million in cap space, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Byard joined the Eagles midway through the 2023 season via trade from the Titans, and he recorded a total career-high 122 tackles between the two teams. The veteran safety is still playing at an excellent level, but the cap savings made possible by his release for Philadelphia makes the move a no-brainer for the team. Byard should have no issue finding a starting role elsewhere in the league.
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Eagles' Kevin Byard: Leading tackler vs. Bills
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Byard recorded 13 tackles (nine solo) in Sunday's 37-34 overtime win versus Buffalo.
Byard has tallied seven-plus total tackles in all of his last six games, but his performance in Week 12 was good enough for a season-high in that category. He's on pace for a career year and projects as a great IDP play in Week 13 when Philadelphia hosts the run-heavy 49ers.
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Eagles' Kevin Byard: Debut likely against Commanders
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Byard is likely to play Sunday against the Commanders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Byard was just acquired by the Eagles on Monday, but he reportedly had a strong week of practice and is likely to be active Sunday. Coach Nick Sirianni suggested Byard's snaps could be limited, so he may not make his typical statistical impact.
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Titans' Kevin Byard: Racks up double-digit tackles
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Byard recorded 10 tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 24-16 loss to Baltimore.
Byard compiled eight-plus tackles for the fourth time through six games in 2023, keeping himself on pace for a career year in that category. He's still looking for his first forced turnover of the campaign, though, and his next chance will come in Week 8 versus Atlanta.
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Titans' Kevin Byard: Compiles 12 tackles in win
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Byard recorded 12 tackles (seven solo) in Sunday's 27-24 overtime win over the Chargers.
Byard paced the Titans in Week 2, compiling 12 tackles for the first time since Week 9 of last season. The safety has recorded 20 takedowns over the first two contests of the year and could be in for a career season if he maintains this level of production for 17 games.
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Titans' Kevin Byard: Nine stops against Saints
Rotowire
Byard recorded nine tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 16-15 loss to the Saints.
Byard found himself in the familiar position of pacing the Titans in tackles while also being on the field for every defensive snap. He's played a significant role in the Tennessee defense across the last six seasons, and that looks likely to be the case again in 2023.
