The Bears on Tuesday designated defensive end Austin Booker and running back Travis Homer to return from injured reserve, opening a 21-day window to put them back on the active roster.
Booker showed promise in the preseason, leading the NFL with 4.0 sacks. But he sustained an injury in the Bears' second preseason game against the Bills and opened the regular season on injured reserve.
"It was super frustrating," Booker told ChicagoBears.com. "But you've got to trust the process, trust everything happens for a reason, and work hard to get back on the field—and that's what I did."
The Bears are hoping that Booker can help not only boost their pass rush but help the run defense improve as well.
"You felt the pass rush there, particularly in the game setting," said coach Ben Johnson. "I saw it in practice and the joint practices as well. He was a guy that was able to affect the quarterback. That's something that we talked about as a unit here today; points of emphasis, where we can improve. Affecting the quarterback, we're not doing a good enough job of it. That's really where I saw Booker making the biggest impact there in the preseason. We'll have to see where he is now back on the practice field."
Booker reported that he "felt good" after Tuesday's practice and is eager to show coaches that he can excel as an every-down defensive end.
"I feel right where I left off and I'm ready to get on the field in a regular season [game] soon," he said.
The Bears selected Booker in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of Kansas with a pick they acquired in a trade with the Bills in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round selection.
The 6-6, 245-pounder also impressed in the preseason as a rookie, registering 2.5 sacks in three games. He played in all 17 regular-season contests last year, registering 21 tackles, three tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks.
Homer is in his seventh NFL season and third with the Bears after playing his first four years with the Seahawks. He has been one of the team's most consistent special teams contributors since arriving in Chicago, tying for the team lead with seven tackles in 2023 and recording six last year.
