The team signs a running back, tight end and defensive tackle on Thursday

LAKE FOREST – Earlier in the day he introduced the new crop of free agents to the media at Halas Hall, but Ryan Powles was hardly done adding to his team.

As it turned out, he was quite busy the rest of the day.

Before Thursday was over, the general manager signed a running back, a tight end with local ties and a defensive lineman to his 2023 team in hopes of making the jump after a 3-14 season in 2022.

Another running back arrived when the Bears signed D’Onta Foreman to a one-year, $3 million contract after his best season as a pro with the Panthers last fall. He rushed for 914 yards (4.5 per carry) with five touchdowns in 17 games for Carolina, his best in five NFL seasons.

Foreman is playing for his sixth NFL team after being drafted by the Texans in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, rushing for 1,901 yards and ten touchdowns in 43 career NFL games.

McHenry native Robert Tonian also joins the Bears on a one-year deal as the former McHenry East High School standout gets a chance with his hometown NFL team.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Lions out of Indiana State in 2017, the tight end found his way to the Packers later that year and made his 2018 debut. In 68 games with Green Bay, including 18 starts, Tonian had 137 catches for 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns.

In 2022, the tight end had 53 catches for 470 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games.

The team also signed quarterback Andrew Billings, who is entering his sixth NFL season, to a one-year contract. He played for the Bengals, Browns and Raiders, recording 120 tackles with 17 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks and 15 sacks in 67 career games.

Last season in Las Vegas, Billings had 39 tackles, including three for a loss and a sack.

After signing quarterback PJ Walker earlier in the week, the Bears released quarterback Trevor Siemian after one season.