Chicago Bears worked out Tony Scheffler

Tony Scheffler (85) jumps over Houston Texans defensive back Brice McCain. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions decided to cut ties with veteran TE Tony Scheffler earlier this week, and an NFC North rival in the Chicago Bears is working out Scheffler. The news was reported by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, who stated that the Bears worked out the 30-year-old Western Michigan product yesterday. Scheffler is dealing with a concussion, and he was fully expected to be waived outright or waived to the injured reserve by the Lions. They decided not to clear him to the I.R., and it is unclear as to when Scheffler will be able to return to action.

There probably isn’t much interest out there for Scheffler, who played poorly in five games this season. However, he has plenty of experience, and he did haul in over 500 receiving yards last season. Scheffler has been a solid tight end in the past, and there’s another layer to the interest that the Chicago Bears are showing in him.

Jay Cutler and Tony Scheffler are good friends going back to their days with the Denver Broncos, and signing Scheffler would give the Bears two former Broncos pass-catching friends of Cutler’s in superstar Brandon Marshall and Scheffler, who would be best utilized as a seldom-used No. 2 TE behind Martellus Bennett. The Bears are the best fit for Scheffler at this point in time, but I highly doubt they will sign him; this seems like a speculative workout.

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