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Former Packers WR Fan Favorite Cut by Bears After Preseason Finale — Issues Emotional Plea to Return to Green Bay Before Roster Deadline

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 Posted August 24, 2025

Chicago, IL — Just hours after the final preseason game, the Chicago Bears released Samori Toure, the 27-year-old wide receiver drafted No. 258 by the Green Bay Packers in 2022. Two weeks earlier, Toure had offered a few bright spots — a 26-yard grab against the Dolphins and three catches for 48 yards against the Bills — but in the finale he saw only one target for –2 yards, closing the door at Soldier Field right before the 53-man roster deadline on August 26.

Toure didn’t linger on disappointment. In this hypothetical scenario, he sends a heartfelt message straight to Green Bay — where his NFL dream began and where he scored his first career touchdown (against the Bills in 2023) — hoping to return in any capacity: competing for a final WR spot or joining the practice squad and contributing on special teams from Week 1.

Toure’s plea:
“IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT FOOTBALL — IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. THE COACHES, THE TEAMMATES, THE FANS WHO MADE GREEN BAY FEEL LIKE FAMILY. NO MATTER WHERE I PLAYED, I MISSED THAT SPIRIT. I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE PACKERS, BECAUSE THIS TEAM AND THESE PEOPLE ARE HOME TO ME.”

From a football standpoint, Toure’s profile fits the narrow window before cutdown: disciplined route-running, clean landmarks, strong boundary hands, and a readiness to play gunner/return depth to add value on fourth down. What the Packers often need from the back end of the WR room isn’t a boom-or-bust star but a do-your-job piece — a drive starter, a reliable target on 3rd-and-medium, and a detail-oriented player in Matt LaFleur’s system.

Of course, the roster math at 1265 Lombardi Ave. is tight: the core names remain, while Malik Heath and Mecole Hardman (among others) sit on the bubble. If Green Bay considers Toure, the most realistic path is a PS deal, then week-to-week evaluation: special-teams impact, a small red-zone/2-minute package, and readiness to elevate when injuries or game plans demand.

Cutdown day is ruthless. But sometimes, a well-timed, genuine message can reopen a closed door. With this “come home” appeal to Green Bay, Samori Toure hopes to turn a low point in Chicago into a second chance in green and gold — where football isn’t only about playbooks, but also about family.

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side