With Trey Burton on injured reserve, Adam Shaheen and Ben Braunecker not likely to play, and Bradley Sowell not being the answer, the Bears will have to look elsewhere for a tight end versus the . Veterans Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris, second-round draft pick Cole Kmet, former second-round pick Adam Shaheen, J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, Eric Saubert and the undrafted Darion Clark are now the remaining tight ends. He was also named first-team All-Ivy League when he recorded 48 catches for 850 yards and eight touchdowns. And why not how many football players spend their offseasons working in a Harvard research lab or taking an immunology class simply to stay mentally fresh? Braunecker has been diagnosed with a concussion and was listed as a DNP on Monday's practice estimate. Ben Braunecker (born February 7, 1994) is a former American football tight end. The Chicago Bears had 10 tight ends on their roster with training camp approaching. They were dating for quite some time before getting engaged in 2020, and they are now happily married. Braunecker was seventh on the team in special teams snaps last year, so someone will have to fill his role in that capacity. Sunday was the realization of the NFL dream . Im sure its near-impossible during the season when youre already studying up on a playbook and an opponent, but have you kept up with some of the things you were studying at Harvard? It could also very well come down to which of the two can be the more effective contributor on special teams, though. Braunecker is still in the concussion protocol and didn't practice Monday, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Harvard? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The 26-year-old Braunecker, who played his college ball at Harvard, has been with the Chicago Bears since signing with the team as a undrafted free agent in 2016. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sports Mockery, Inc. 2022 | All rights reserved. ANALYSIS. A healthy scratch Week 10, Shaheen has been tending to a foot injury in the interim that is forcing a second consecutive DNP this weekend. Muhammad appeared in 16 games with nine starts in 2022, registering 29 tackles and one sack. As I mentioned, part of the reason why I wanted to get into this is because I see it as inevitable and its obviously extremely important. Yeah, I mean, its huge. Was that something you were pretty knowledgable about? The gyms here are closed as well as they are in Illinois. Ben Braunecker Position: TE 6-3 , 247lb (190cm, 112kg) Born: February 7 in Ferdinand, IN (Age: 29-010d) College: Harvard Weighted Career AV (100-95-. He played tied end for the Chicago Bears for four years after graduating from Harvard in 2016. Its always interesting the first week of classes and trying to read primary research again is just like, wow. I have pretty much nothing to say on that. After his release, the Bears now have eight tight ends on the roster. How has this impacted your day-to-day routine for whatever youd normally be doing workout-wise in March? The 26-year-old landed on injured reserve with a concussion in December, but before that, he put up career highs with six catches for 59 yards in 11 games while also catching his first career touchdown. Despite having showcased a step forward in his development, offseason additions Cole Kmet, Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris have now made Braunecker the odd man out in Chicago's crowded tight end room. 1,700 Followers. The Bears will give him every chanceto make this roster, and if he shows some level of promise during the preseason, you can expect the Bears, at a minimum, to keep him on the practice squad. [3], Braunecker majored in molecular and cell biology. The Bears on Wednesday claimed cornerback Michael Ojemudia off waivers from the Broncos and waived defensive end Taco Charlton. Most college kids get summer jobs moving furniture, mowing lawns, or working in retail. Braunecker got a spot start this past Sunday against the Giants, earning 71 percent of the offensive snaps and turning them into two catches (on four targets) for nine yards. That is the only explanation that makes sense anymore. This was just the second game all season in which he's caught a pass, making him a player who can't be trusted in fantasy lineups. Just stay healthy and people will see. Maybe a little bit more health- and I would just say sanitation-minded than your average football player, but I understand that, especially when youre young and a professional athlete, you have a healthy immune system, so you could fight off pretty much all the little bugs that try to get into you on a daily basis. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: profiles | Braunecker, who caught his first NFL touchdown last November before a concussion ended his season, talked to The Athletic from Arizona and offered his perspective on the new coronavirus. Ben Braunecker - While the Bears have used Braunecker in-line at times, he's best suited at the U. Darion Clark - Clark hasn't played football since he was a high school quarterback, but at. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 26 years old? Braunecker talked about his frustrations at Bears minicamp (according to Larry Mayer): "Projections had me anywhere from [Rounds] 4-to-6 and I sat there on draft day for about seven hours on my couch with an ESPN camera in my face watching every pick go by, and that definitely puts a chip on my shoulder.I want to make this team. He was twice named All-State (Honorable Mention); he was the Southwestern Indiana MVP and twice All-Conference. @Ben_Braunecker. Getty I guess pretty much the same. He's played in just 47 games over his four seasons in the NFL and the most passes he's caught in a single season for Chicago is 6 in 2019. Its just closed indefinitely. Mitchell Trubisky shows signs of life in ugly win over Giants, Bears deep at wide receiver in final 53-man roster projection, Bears re-sign TE Braunecker to 2-year contract, 2018 Chicago Bears starters, 53-man roster, schedule prediction, Undrafted WR Tanner Gentry resurfaces on Bears' practice squad, Bears' final 53-man roster projection includes six receivers but not Victor Cruz, Mike Glennon flashes surprising mobility in rare Bears night practice, Mixed bag for Mike Glennon-to-Cameron Meredith connection, Mark Sanchez lights it up in two-minute drill, Mitchell Trubisky recovers after frustrating weekend at Bears camp. Braunecker (concussion) was listed as a non-participant in Tuesday's practice. Braunecker (concussion) won't play in Thursday's game against the Lions. If he doesnt make the roster, it wont be from a lack of effort, just that the transition to the NFL level proved to be too much, but dont count Braunecker out. Braunecker (concussion) remains in the mix among the nine tight ends on Chicago's roster heading into training camp, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. This does save nearly $1.5M of cap space. Subtractions in #Bears TE corps were inevitable but bummer for just released Ben Braunecker, whod developed into a decent special teams performer. Ben Braunecker contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations. Braunecker (concussion) didn't practice Thursday. Itll always be a yes for you. Braunecker is actually the third Bears tight end to go on injured reserve. The Harvard product joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and he proceeded to spend four years with the organization. Ben Braunecker. So that begs the question. Braunecker wouldve been cut too, but he deserved to go after Shaheen. The Bears on Saturday signed quarterback Nathan Peterman to the active roster, placed quarterback Trevor Siemian on injured reserve and elevated defensive backs Adrian Colbert and Harrison Hand to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Packers. [13][14] He was promoted to the active roster on November 7, 2017. (Photo: Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Braunecker chose to stand on his combine numbers for his 3-cone drill, short shuttle, and bench press. Braunecker likely will enter training camp below all three -- plus Adam Shaheen -- on the depth chart and may have a tough time making the Week 1 roster. For the third consecutive week, Braunecker isn't taking the field due to a concussion. 10 subscribers [x] 20 subscribers [x] 30 . The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. Chicago likely released him to save money, and the addition of rookie Kmet had to play a factor, as well. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Braunecker is smart, but being he has a legitimate career in waiting doesnt mean hes any less motivated to make the Bears roster. What sort of blackmail material does he have that keeps him on this roster? When he's ready to return, Braunecker will be the No. Adam Shaheen (foot) will also be on the shelf, so J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted and Bradley Sowell will round out Chicago's tight-end corps. Since arriving in Chicago as an undrafted free agent from Harvard in 2016, Braunecker has appeared in 47 games with seven starts over four seasons, catching 13 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown while also regularly contributing on special teams. Simmons has been one of the most polarizing athletes in recent memory because of how unique his career arc has been compared to most players considered to be All-Star level players. Bears Begin Roster Cuts, Release Tight End Ben Braunecker, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. On Braunecker's touchdown, the coaching staff thought up a perfect play that left him isolated on the third-string free safety, and Mitchell Trubisky threw a perfect pass that allowed his tight end to find the end zone. Its interesting. Does it give you a greater sense of purpose? The Bears on Tuesday released veteran defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad. Braunecker is expected to be the Bears' primary tight end Sunday against the Giants in the absence of Adam Shaheen (foot). Harvard won 3 Ivy League titles during his career, compiling a 24-4 conference record and an overall record of 36-4. [12], On September 3, 2017, Braunecker was waived by the Bears and was signed to the practice squad the next day. Braunecker put up career numbers with the Bears last season, logging six catches for 59 yards and his first touchdown across 11 games. Ben Braunecker's Potential Could Go Unexplored Bears tight end Ben Braunecker started to show what he could do when given the chance to play more late last season and then suffered a. He had high hopes for the young tight end back in 2017 and has expressed that same belief ever since. Chelsea can re-sign former player for 71m in the next transfer window. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? It might bring some people joy or relief from everything thats going on to see the NFL still operating pretty rapidly. The Bears were disappointed with their tight-end production last season, so they brought in new talent this offseason, drafting Cole Kmet in the second round while signing Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris. The Bears on Saturday elevated safety Adrian Colbert and cornerback Greg Stroman Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster in advance of Sunday's season finale against the Vikings. With no Chicago tight end posting more than 24 yards in a game all season, even if Braunecker continues to start he'll be a low-upside fantasy option. February 26, 2023 12:30 pm ET. [10] Going into the regular season, he was the Bears' third option at tight end, behind Zach Miller and Logan Paulsen. The Harvard graduate was a fun story in Chicago. Sometimes I guess Im seen as the resident scientist on the Bears. Yeah, occasionally. Last year Braunecker played in 11 games with three starts, recording six receptions for 59 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Braunecker (concussion) didn't practice Tuesday, Stacey Dales of NFL Network reports. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and played for the team through 2019. Shaheens window passed the moment the Bears handed $16 million to Jimmy Graham and spent a 2nd round pick on Cole Kmet. Things definitely seem to have changed from a public perspective, but early on, did you have to change anyones mind about how serious this was? Boots, hats, denim, anything goes! Braunecker has a bit of an uphill battle to make the final 53-man roster as an undrafted player from an FCS program, but he is fortunate to be joining a team with a lot of question marks at his . The action you just performed triggered the security solution. So stay tuned! The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Chicago Bears have begun thinning out their roster, and they have just released veteran tight end Ben Braunecker, who has been with the team since 2016. Its just a guess. I know I want to get into medicine and do research more than clinical work. The 25-year-old will have to fully clear the protocol before returning to game action, putting his availability in doubt for Thursday's matchup with Dallas. As long as Braunecker is sidelined, expect J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted to split tight end reps for the Bears. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e1f111c532f50 Braunecker is more than just an undrafted free agent long shot with a high IQ. Braunecker (concussion) has been ruled out for Thursday's game versus the Cowboys. Seemingly on pace for a third DNP in a row Sunday at Green Bay, he'll leave tight end in the hands of J.P Holtz and Jesper Horsted. He was a core special teams performer for them. Furniture. Weve already told him that, youre the guy that were coming to if we have questions. More News He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and played for the team through 2019. Im thankful that this isnt apocalyptic, but its still concerning and Im just hoping we can get through it with minimal lives lost and minimal damage to the economy. Braunecker's season will come to a close with six receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown. The Bears on Tuesday placed rookie linebacker Jack Sanborn on injured reserve and signed veteran linebacker Elijah Lee off the Chiefs practice squad. He caught eight passes for 87 yards and a score, but Holtz could have the edge, as he played in 14 games and started seven. [17] On November 10, 2019, he scored his first career NFL touchdown on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Trubisky against the Detroit Lions. I knew about it, but Ive never witnessed it in practice, especially on this scale. It seems like every year bigger and bigger names keep making these career-transforming moves at an accelerated rate, so its interesting every year. Braunecker will find it difficult to get through the concussion protocol and play Thursday in Detroit, so the Bears may be down to J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted and Bradley Sowell at tight end Week 13. Your IP: When 100%, Burton is the . So its been a pretty terrible, no good year for the former nose tackle. Hes just the type of player that Pace and John Fox want on the roster. That is the only explanation that makes sense anymore. When asked about a post-football career, which is what you ask of a Harvard grad when he enters the league, the molecular and cell biology major said he wanted to be an infectious disease doctor. The 25-year-old will play a depth role behind Trey Burton (groin) and Adam Shaheen in 2019. Its not as good as it could be. Especially given his lack of special teams presence. For me its a combination of watching and reading the news and the scientific literature is coming out at a really fast pace, so New England Journal of Medicine and then PubMed, you can find a ton of stuff on there. Doing a lot of yoga, a lot of body-weight exercise right now. He is also one of the few White Sox fans out there and thinks Michael Jordan is, hands down, the GOAT. Braunecker struggled with a severe ankle injury during the 2016 offseason and missed the entire preseason. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. You cant really go to any gym and lift weights. He wound up catching seven passes for 91 yards, which, considering the lackluster production that came from the Bears tight ends last year, wasnt bad team-wise. With Chicago running many formations of multiple tight ends, Braunecker saw three targets while Trey Burton was eased back into the lineup as he recovers from offseason groin surgery. Youre really just trying anything. Several analysts were surprised by Brauneckers release, as he knows the offense well, and has been a solid presence on special teams. 1 role. Thats kinda the perk of having the brainiac with us.. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Ben Braunecker Whats your take on it? How have you read about coronavirus or consumed the news about it? Couches, chairs, heavy chairs, desks. Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 23, 2020. All Shaheen has to do is stay healthy. Is it going to be that bad? Its been interesting. I ask because its been a weird week where everything is shut down, except for the NFL. Braunecker (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports. I can only handle one social media platform at a time. After 20-plus years on the radio hosting shows like The Bruno-Golic Morning Show (ESPN Radios first morning show), Mike & Mike, and Golic and Wingo, ESPN decided his work there was done when they announced on July 9 that the company would be cancelling Golics show with Trey Wingo. I know the Bears equipment staff takes cleanliness very seriously, but youre in a sport with a lot of close contact. Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSideds BearGogglesOn. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Ben Braunecker (born February 7, 1994) is a former American football tight end. Chicago Bears tight end Ben Braunecker caught two passes for 24 yards in the team's 16-14 win over the Broncos in Week 2. He knows hes a good fit for this roster, and he knows he has an opportunity. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. Simpson trial of the 1990s or the murder case levied against Robert Blake in the early 2000s. It has become a running joke in the league to comment on the ber-crowded tight ends room in Chicago, but the room is getting less and less crowded by the minute. Lasting four seasons in this capacity on the same team is a pretty impressive achievement. Finding household objects to lift up. Hes hard-working and has that never-give-up attitude that comes in handy in a league as competitive as the NFL. That culminated in Feb. 2016, when offensive lineman Cole Toner and tight end Ben Braunecker, two prospects out of Harvard, were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Braunecker had 13 receptions for 142. The Bears cut Braunecker on Thursday. This has certainly heightened the importance of things we all probably should be practicing all the time. He did score his only touchdown in 2019 though, against the Detroit Lions in week 10. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Signed a 2 year $2.7 million contract extension with Chicago (CHI), Signed to the active roster by Chicago (CHI), Signed to the practice squad by Chicago (CHI), Signed a 3 year $1.62 million contract with Chicago (CHI). All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Joined February 2016. According to the Count's analysis of which prospects fared best, tight end Ben Braunecker was the standout performer. What kind of objects have you found to be helpful? Braunecker likely will enter training camp below all three -- plus Adam Shaheen -- on the depth chart and may have a tough time making the Week 1 roster. 100 Following. Braunecker attended Forest Park High School in Indiana, where he played for the football team on offense, defense and special teams. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. In addition to part-time duty on offense, he became a solid contributor on special teams. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Im driven to make this team and Im really thankful the Bears gave me an opportunity.". Braunecker caught two passes for 24 yards in the Bears' 16-14 victory over the Broncos on Sunday. Ive tried doing that in-season, very minimally, and it really doesnt work that well. Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) July 23, 2020. Braunecker couldn't recover from the head injury on the short week after sustaining the concussion in Sunday's win over the Giants. Braunecker sat out a second straight practice after suffering a concussion during Week 12's win over the Giants, and coach Matt Nagy said "it'd be a stretch" for the fourth-year tight end to suit up Thursday against the Lions, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. What do you think we should be doing? The Bears on Saturday elevated receiver Nsimba Webster and tight end Jake Tonges from the practice squad to the active roster in advance of Sunday's game against the Eagles. As a return specialist, he had 29 kickoff returns for 1,005 yards, while on defense, he recorded 101 tackles and seven interceptions. He fought his way onto the roster as an undrafted free agent. The thing is Pace is way past delusional. Infectiousdiseaseguy. He hit injured reserve due to a concussion in December, but has since fully recovered and will be free to search for a chance with another organization. It all makes sense and its something that we need to do so we dont overwhelm the healthcare system. His release may be a slight blow after the recent good news in his personal life, but the odds of Braunecker landing on another teams roster are good; the Harvard grad is smart and hard-working, and his four years of experience with the Bears wont hurt. Braunecker started 11 games for. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Ben Braunecker was born on 7 February, 1994 in Ferdinand, IN, is an American football tight end. Educated to be a writer at the prestigious Columbia College in Chicago, Erik has spent the past 10 years covering the Bears. I ask because we could be entering a new normal where everyone is extra-focused on being clean. READ NEXT: If NFL Season is Cancelled, Bears Could Snag Top QB Prospect in 2021. The. If youve never heard of Ben Braunecker, youre probably not alone. Sydney Golic, just like her dad and siblings, is a graduate of Notre Dame, class of 2016, where she majored in film, television and theatre, and competed in the backstroke and breaststroke for the Fighting Irish swim team. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. The previous two Ive taken online classes one in exercise physiology, one in immunology and one in stem cell regenerative biology. On the season, there hasn't been a Bears tight end to reach 20 yards in a game, making Braunecker and the rest of Chicago's TE corps a weak fantasy option. I tell them all the time, I can give you my unprofessional, non-medical opinion, but really, seek info from the experts. Yeah, its been quite shocking, actually. Best Mnday ever. #Bears released veteran TE Ben Braunecker. Just to try to stay as scientifically literate as possible and refresh as much as I can. The Bears on Saturday added running back Darrynton Evans, quarterback Nathan Peterman and linebacker DeMarquis Gates to their active roster in advance of Sunday's road game against the Jets. 15 Best Free Agent Acquisitions of All-Time, Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL, How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023, The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward, Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback, 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears. Maybe not this fast though. (Laughs). If you enjoy montages, commentaries, and gameplay, glitches, and other things, stick around. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. Wash your hands, dont touch your face, etc. Understandable, I guess. Its one of the reasons I wanted to get into this field because I always regarded some pandemic on some level as an inevitability. [7], He entered training camp battling for a backup tight end position with Khari Lee, Tony Moeaki, Rob Housler, and Greg Scruggs. (Kena Krutsinger / USA Today), linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe was pre-med at Western Kentucky, Guard James Daniels was a biology major at Iowa. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. Were waiting on Harvard shirts as a group. Were not really used to that in the NFL world. Braunecker is the third Bears tight end to land on IR this season. All rights reserved. Its an unprecedented time. Ben Braunecker has more value than Shaheen at this point This can only be called pure favoritism on the part of GM Ryan Pace. Braunecker talked about that fit (also according to Mayer): "I think a nice, strong, reliable Y tight end is what the Bears are looking for right now, so Im just very thankful to be given the opportunity as an undrafted free agent to come into a system and to work with coach Frank Smith, whos great in my first impression at giving me the tools and the opportunity to be able to step in and hopefully make the roster.". With the Bears having such a stocked roster (they were carrying 90 players and will have to whittle that number down to 80), cuts were inevitable and expected, but Braunecker was thought to have a better chance than, say, Saubert, Horstead or Holtz. Horstead, who signed with the Bears as an undrafted rookie last season, played in six games for Chicago last year, starting one. In my opinion, if theres anything worthwhile to dedicate your entire life to, its something that has the ability to stop the world in its tracks.