Chicago Bears waive Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL draft pick Kyle Hergel

Photo: Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have waived Canadian offensive lineman Kyle Hergel, per sources. He remains a candidate for the team’s practice roster.

The six-foot-three, 302-pound blocker saw extensive playing time in each of Chicago’s three preseason games. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just two pressures over 134 offensive snaps.

All 31 other NFL teams will now get a chance to claim Hergel on the waiver wire. Should he pass through unclaimed, he will be eligible to join Chicago’s practice roster.

Hergel originally signed with the team’s practice roster in November and remained there until the team was eliminated from postseason contention.

The native of Toronto, Ont. signed with the New Orleans Saints after going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft. He dressed for eight regular-season games with the team and played 45 offensive snaps and 26 special teams snaps, though he was waived at the conclusion of training camp in 2025.

Hergel played his final collegiate season at Boston College in 2023, where he was named an All-ACC honourable mention at guard. He spent the two previous seasons at Texas State, where he was named third-team All-Sun Belt in 2022.

The 26-year-old started his collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, where he was named the FCS Independent Newcomer of the Year in 2019. Over 54 career collegiate starts, he allowed five sacks and 32 pressures on 1,774 pass-blocking snaps.

Hergel’s exclusive CFL rights belong to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who selected him in the first round of the 2024 CFL Draft.

John Hodge is a longtime Canadian football reporter, insider, and podcaster for 3DownNation. Based in Winnipeg, Hodge is also a freelance television and radio broadcaster.