CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears waived former starting right tackle Jordan Mills on Sunday, the team confirmed.
“Thanks Chicago for the memories and all that you’ve done for me,” Mills tweeted from his verified Twitter account.
The Bears also released safety Sherrod Martin to clear roster space for defensive back Harold Jones-Quartey and offensive guard Patrick Omameh, who the team claimed off waivers.
A 2013 fifth-round draft pick, Mills started 29 games at right tackle over the last two seasons but never seemed to recover from a foot injury he sustained in Week 17 of his rookie season. Mills admitted he lost confidence in 2014, but he still managed to start 13 games and entered this year’s training camp as the No. 1 right tackle.
But Mills struggled in camp and quickly go demoted to second string behind Charles Leno before the Bears played the Indianapolis Colts Aug. 22.
The release of Mills, coupled with the addition of Omameh -- who started all 16 games at right guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season -- may be the best sign yet that Chicago plans to move two-time Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long to right tackle.
Long took a handful of practice reps at right tackle over the last couple of weeks after he spent the final two weeks of the offseason program working exclusively at both tackle spots.
The Bears also took a hard look at guard Vladimir Ducasse in the exhibition finale vs. Cleveland. He could be another candidate to replace Long inside if the Bears make the much-anticipated move.
Leno made the 53-man roster but likely just to be the Bears’ swing tackle.
The Bears return to the practice field Monday at 9:45 a.m. CT.
