The Bears opened up a roster spot this week by placing cornerback Charles Tillman on injured reserve with the designation to return.
They announced that they filled it on Wednesday by signing veteran defensive back Derrick Martin. Martin spent some time with the Bears this summer, but wound up getting cut as the team made their way down to 53 players.
Martin has plenty of experience, playing 66 games for four different teams over the last seven years. Martin has won Super Bowl rings with both the Packers and Giants over that stretch, but he’s mostly served as a reserve wherever he’s wound up playing.
While Tillman can return later this season, he won’t be eligible to do so unless the Bears advance to the playoffs. Martin’s not going to move the needle much in that direction, but the Bears will take any help they can get.