LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Chicago Bears signed tight end Tony Moeaki and defensive lineman Marquis Jackson and waived defensive lineman Kenton Adeyemi and linebacker Don Cherry, the team announced on Thursday.
Moeaki, 29, joins the Bears after he attended veteran minicamp on a tryout basis.
Originally a third-round pick of the Chiefs in 2010, Moeki had a pair of productive seasons in Kansas City, combining for 80 receptions for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns in 2010 and 2012.
Moeaki played in 11 games for Atlanta in 2015, but hauled in just three passes for 58 yards and one touchdown. The veteran tight end also spent time with Buffalo and Seattle.
A Chicago area native, Moeaki will battle Rob Housler (did not participate in minicamp), Khari Lee and undrafted rookie Ben Braunecker for a spot on the 53-man roster. Behind starting tight end Zach Miller, the Bears are light on experience at the position.
Meantime, Jackson is the twin brother of Jacksonville defensive end Malik Jackson, who signed with the Jaguars in the offseason for $42 million guaranteed.
Jackson was one of seven veteran players to participate in the Bears’ rookie camp in May.
A 6-foot-4, 280 pound defensive lineman out of Portland State, Jackson played for the Minnesota Vikings and in the Arena Football League in recent years.
Jackson landed on Chicago's radar because of his brother, who played three seasons (2012-14) for Bears coach John Fox in Denver.
"We had [Marquis in for a workout] in Denver one time and he was in a suit, sitting in our lunchroom,” Fox said. “Everybody was looking around going, 'Malik, what are you doing in a suit?' So I've met him before. That's a big reason why we brought him in."
