The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released former starting safety Cody Grimm and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who had four sacks for the Bears last season and could be a candidate to rejoin the Bears as soon as Friday.
Grimm was a seventh-round pick from Virginia Tech in 2010. He became a starter as a rookie when Tanard Jackson was suspended by the NFL. He played well before a season-ending leg injury. Grimm entered 2011 as a starter but again wound up on injured reserve after an in-game collision with linebacker Geno Hayes.
Okoye, a first-round pick at the age of 19, spent four seasons with the Texans before signing with the Bears last season. He joined the Bengals as a free agent in April.
Other players released by the Buccaneers included linebacker Rennie Curran, safety Keith Tandy, defensive tackle Frank Okam, safety Larry Asante and running back Mossis Madu.