LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Tuesday bolstered their offensive line by acquiring guard Dan Buenning from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for an undisclosed 2009 draft pick.

To make room on the roster, the Bears waived rookie cornerback Zackary Bowman, a fifth-round draft pick from Nebraska. The trade is contingent on Buenning, a 26-year-old Green Bay native, passing a physical.

Buenning was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2005 draft out of Wisconsin and started all 16 games at left guard as a rookie. In 2006, the 6-4, 320-pounder played in nine games with seven starts before being placed on injured reserve after tearing his right ACL in a Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas.

With 2006 first-round pick Davin Joseph and 2007 second-round selection Arron Sears starting at guard for Tampa Bay last season, Buenning was inactive for all 16 games. 

“I’m right there now, healthy as a horse,” Buenning told the Tampa Tribune in early August. “It was an ACL and that’s usually a year. They didn’t feel I was ready to go last season and besides, Sears was doing a good job.”

Buenning will add depth at a key position for the Bears. Second-year pro Josh Beekman started all four preseason games after Terrence Metcalf injured his knee in training camp. But Beekman appeared in just one contest as a rookie in 2007.