The Chicago Bears signed veteran safety Xavier Woods Today, adding experienced depth to a secondary that has been hit hard by injuries this preseason. In a corresponding move, the team placed defensive back Dallis Flowers on injured reserve after he hurt his right leg during Thursday’s practice.
Who is Xavier Woods, and what does he bring to the Bears?
Woods, who turned 31 in July, enters his tenth NFL season with 121 career starts across 134 games played, a track record that makes him one of the more experienced options on Chicago’s roster. He began his career as a sixth round pick out of Louisiana Tech, selected by the Dallas Cowboys, where he spent four seasons and started 48 of 60 games. After his rookie contract ended following the 2020 season, Woods moved through stops with the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.
How did Woods perform in his most recent season?
Playing for Tennessee last season, Woods appeared in 11 games, starting 10 of them, and posted 39 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections and a sack across 526 defensive snaps. His performance metrics placed him as a solid, if unspectacular, starting option league wide. Earlier in his career, Woods posted a career high 119 tackles and matched his career best with three interceptions during a 2024 season with Carolina, and he has 15 interceptions total across his nine NFL seasons.
Why did the Bears need to make this move now?
The signing directly addresses a growing injury problem in Chicago’s secondary. Starting safety Coby Bryant is expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season after suffering a hyperextended knee, a bone bruise and a small fracture. Compounding the issue, safety Elijah Hicks, who has been on Chicago’s active roster in each of the past four seasons, is currently sidelined on the physically unable to perform list with a shin injury. Woods’ signing gives the Bears a proven veteran option to help absorb that lost depth immediately.
Where does Woods fit on the depth chart?
With Bryant sidelined, Woods figures to compete with Cam Lewis for a starting safety spot alongside Dillon Thieneman. Once Bryant returns to health, Woods could still carve out a valuable role as a backup, particularly given his versatility. Last season, he lined up in the box on 27.3% of his defensive snaps and in the slot on another 14.9%, a skill set that fits what Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen looks for in his safeties.
Does Woods have any prior connection to the Bears’ coaching staff?
Yes. Woods overlapped for one season in Dallas with current Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris, who served as his position coach in 2020, giving the two an existing working relationship heading into this new chapter.
What happened to Dallis Flowers?
Flowers needed assistance leaving the field during Thursday’s practice after injuring his right leg. He appeared in just one game for the Bears last season, and his placement on injured reserve opens a roster spot that made room for Woods‘ signing.
Bottom line
With two safeties already sidelined by injury heading into the regular season, the Bears used Today’s move to add a battle tested veteran who can step into a starting role immediately or provide experienced depth once Bryant returns, giving Chicago’s secondary some much needed stability during a stretch marked by injury attrition.
