If you spent any time scrolling through Bears Twitter during the sweltering heat of July 2025, you know the name. JP Richardson wasn't just another undrafted free agent trying to survive the meat grinder of an NFL training camp. He was the guy. The kid from TCU who seemed to catch everything Caleb Williams or Case Keenum threw his way. He had that "it" factor, a certain twitchiness in his routes that made veteran defensive backs look a little silly in 7-on-7 drills.
But then, the hammer dropped.
The news that the Chicago Bears waived JP Richardson during the final roster cuts in late August 2025 felt like a gut punch to the fans who had spent weeks hyping him up as the next great underdog story. Why cut a guy who "flashed" every single day? It’s complicated. NFL rosters are a numbers game, and unfortunately for Richardson, the math just didn't add up in his favor when the deadline hit.
Why the Bears Decided to Move On
Look, the Bears' wide receiver room in 2025 was absolutely loaded. We aren't talking about the days of "who is that?" catching passes in Chicago. Between superstar DJ Moore, the rising Rome Odunze, and the second-round spark plug Luther Burden III, the top of the depth chart was basically concrete.
When you add in veterans like Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay—who basically has a roster spot locked up because of his All-Pro return skills—the room gets tiny, real fast. Honestly, Richardson was fighting for the WR6 spot against Tyler Scott and Maurice Alexander.
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While Richardson was a "training camp darling," a few things went south:
- The Ankle Injury: He picked up a nasty ankle sprain during the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. In the NFL, "availability is the best ability," and missing precious preseason snaps at the worst possible time is a death sentence for a rookie.
- Special Teams Value: To be a bottom-of-the-roster receiver, you have to be a special teams demon. While Richardson had punt return experience at TCU, the Bears already had Duvernay and Scott.
- Consistency vs. Flash: It's one thing to make a diving one-handed catch in a practice jersey; it's another to grind out blocks and execute perfect routes in a live-fire game situation. Coaching staff sources hinted they wanted more consistency.
The Journey From TCU to Soldier Field
To understand why people cared so much, you have to look at where JP Richardson came from. He wasn't some nobody. At TCU, he was a reliable chain-mover. He finished his 2024 college season with 57 catches for 733 yards. He even had that massive 89-yard punt return touchdown against Kansas that went viral.
He brought that same energy to Lake Forest. In the early days of camp, Richardson was the first guy on the field and the last one off. He was "intentional," according to offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. That kind of work ethic usually buys you a lot of slack, but the NFL is a business, and General Manager Ryan Poles had to make the tough call to waive him to get down to the 53-man limit.
What Happened After He Was Waived?
Usually, when a fan favorite gets waived, fans expect another team to swoop in and claim him. That didn't happen here. Why? Because claiming a player off waivers means you have to put them on your active 43-man game-day roster. Most teams aren't ready to do that with an injured undrafted rookie.
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This worked out for Chicago. Richardson cleared waivers and immediately signed back to the Bears practice squad.
He spent most of the 2025 season there, learning the system under head coach Ben Johnson. It wasn't until very late in the year—specifically Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers—that we actually saw him get elevated to the active roster. He didn't record a stat in that game, and he eventually reverted back to the practice squad, but it showed that the staff still saw something in him.
The Reality of the Roster Bubble
Being a "bubble player" is stressful. One day you're the hero of the local news highlights, and the next, you're being told to turn in your playbook. For a guy like Richardson, being waived wasn't necessarily a "goodbye," it was a "not yet."
The Bears are in a winning window now. They finished 2025 with an 11-6 record and actually won a playoff game against the Packers. In that environment, you can't really afford to "develop" a sixth receiver on the active roster if they aren't contributing on special teams immediately.
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What You Should Expect Next
If you're still holding onto your JP Richardson "stock," here is the reality of the situation as we head into the 2026 offseason:
- Futures Contract: Expect the Bears to sign him to a reserve/future contract. This keeps his rights with the team through the spring.
- The Physicality Factor: He’s 5'11" and about 190 pounds. To stick in this league, he needs to prove he can beat press coverage from the bigger, more physical corners in the NFC North.
- Special Teams or Bust: Unless there is a major injury to Moore or Odunze, Richardson's only path to the 2026 roster is through the "third phase." He has to become undeniable as a gunner or a returner.
The story of JP Richardson is basically a microcosm of the NFL. Talent gets you in the door. Hard work gets you on the practice field. But at the end of the day, roster spots are earned through utility and health. He’s got the hands; now he just needs the luck.
Keep an eye on the transaction wire this spring. If the Bears don't bring in another wave of veteran receivers, Richardson might just get that second chance to prove the training camp hype was real all along.
Actionable Insights for Bears Fans:
- Monitor the Practice Squad: If Richardson isn't signed to a "Futures" contract by the end of January 2026, he becomes a free agent.
- Watch the 2026 Draft: If Ryan Poles drafts another receiver in the first three rounds, it effectively ends the JP Richardson era in Chicago.
- Health Check: Look for reports on his ankle strength during OTA (Offseason Team Activities) to see if he’s regained that "twitch" that made him a favorite.