The Chicago Bears grabbed a veteran long snapper from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, and the Saints had no way to stop it. Scott Daly was on the Saints practice squad for just one week before Chicago made him their own. This move happened so fast that the Saints could not even get him on their active roster to keep him.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Saints had lost their starter, Zach Wood, to injured reserve after the first game. Wood is in his 10th season with New Orleans, so the team needed a quick fix. They signed Daly, a veteran with real NFL experience, to fill that hole. But the rules of the practice squad work against teams in this spot.
The Practice Squad Trap
While a practice squad member may be signed by another franchise, that new team is required to place him on its 53-man roster right away. Space availability on the practice squad was the sole reason the Saints signed Daly to that specific roster. Although he was elevated on gameday to play, any player elevated from the practice squad for a game returns automatically afterward. That is the exact moment the Bears struck.
Chicago needed a long snapper because their starter, Beau Gardner, has struggled. Playing for Georgia, Beggs Barnum Gardner was recognized as the top college football long snapper last season. But his struggles meant Daly was needed in Chicago right away. The Bears signed Daly on Tuesday after they parted with him in 2025.
Fans were pumped to see the Bears legend return.
A Third Option Arrives
The Saints did not sit still. After working out three long snappers last week, the team decided to sign Daly. Luke Basso and Niko Lalos were the other two individuals who attended the workouts. Now that Daly is gone, the Saints moved again. According to Yahoo Sports, the New Orleans Saints signed Cal Adomitis, a former Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper, from the Miami Dolphins practice squad.
The Bears now have a reliable snapper in Daly, while the Saints hope Adomitis can hold the line. For a team that has seen three different snappers in a few weeks, stability is the only goal left.
