Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
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.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Elevated Saturday
Rotowire
The Bears elevated Carlson from their practice squad to active roster Saturday.
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.
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Stephen Carlson: Back with Bears
Rotowire
Carlson signed to Chicago's practice squad Wednesday.
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.
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Stephen Carlson: Released by Bears
Rotowire
Chicago released Carlson on Tuesday.
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.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Back in Chicago
Rotowire
The Bears re-signed Carlson (collarbone) on Friday, Brendan Sugrue of USA Today reports.
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.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Set for free agency
Rotowire
Carlson (collarbone) was placed on injured reserve Sept. 28 and didn't play a snap for the Bears in 2024.
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.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Placed on IR with collarbone injury
Rotowire
The Bears placed Carlson (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
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 can return is Week 9 against the Cardinals on Nov. 3.
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Stephen Carlson: Sticks around in Windy City
Rotowire
Carlson signed with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
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.
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Stephen Carlson: Released by Chicago
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The Bears released Carlson on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
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.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Gets reserve/future contract
Rotowire
The Bears signed Carlson to a reserve/future contract Monday, Larry Mayer of the team's official website reports.
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 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.
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Stephen Carlson: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carlson was elevated to Chicago's active roster Saturday, but he was ultimately ruled inactive prior to the game. Thus, he will continue to try and impress at practice while awaiting a new opportunity to get called up.
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Stephen Carlson: Back in Windy City
Rotowire
Carlson is signing with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Carlson was unable to land a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster this year but will attempt to find a role as part of the practice squad. He spent the 2019 and 2020 campaigns with the Browns but has dealt with injuries in recent seasons.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Headed to Chicago
Rotowire
Carlson agreed to a one-year contract with Chicago on Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The tight end out of Princeton is going from Cleveland to Chicago after signing with the Bears on Saturday. He hasn't played in the NFL since 2020, but in his last two active seasons with Cleveland he recorded six catches for 62 yards and one touchdown while acting as a special teams ace, playing over 80 percent of the special teams snaps. This is the third tight end Chicago has brought in this offseason, as the team also lured Robert Tonyan away from Green Bay and signed Damien Caffrey as an undrafted free agent.
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Stephen Carlson: Not tendered by Cleveland
Rotowire
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.
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.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Reverts to IR
Rotowire
Carlson (knee) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
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.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Season-ending injury feared
Rotowire
There are fears that Carlson suffered a season-ending knee injury in Saturday's preseason opener against Jacksonville, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
The severity of Carlson's knee injury hasn't been confirmed yet, but it sounds like he'll be facing a lengthy absence. This is an unfortunate turn of events for the tight end, who had been enjoying a strong camp and was on track to secure a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Sticking with Cleveland
Rotowire
Carlson signed his exclusive-rights contract tender with the Browns on Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Carlson returns to a crowded tight-end room, one which currently features Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku above him on him on the depth chart. Over his past two seasons in Cleveland, Carlson totaled six receptions for 62 yards and one score in 25 appearances.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Gearing up Sunday
Rotowire
Carlson (groin) will play in Sunday's AFC divisional round against the Chiefs.
Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku are all healthy for Sunday's playoff game, so Carlson will mainly contribute on special teams.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Carlson (groin) did not practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday's AFC divisional-round game against the Chiefs, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Carlson appears truly iffy for Sunday's game, but his presence likely won't impact Cleveland's offense one way or another. He saw just two targets through 16 regular-season games in 2020, and both Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant are set for Sunday while No.3 tight end David Njoku (hamstring) is questionable.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Moves up depth chart
Rotowire
Carlson is expected to receive more playing time with David Njoku (knee) on injured reserve, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Carlson played just 12 snaps (16 percent) and had one target in the season-opening loss to the Ravens but moved up to third on the depth chart behind Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. He broadly fits into the category of blocking tight end, but quarterback Baker Mayfield uses tight ends as red-zone scoring options. Carlson caught five of seven targets with one touchdown in 2019.
