Running back Paul Lasike in action for his college side the Brigham Young Cougars. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand NFL hopeful Paul Lasike has made the Chicago Bears' final roster for the upcoming NFL season, according to reports.
The 26-year-old from Auckland has had a standout pre-season for the NFC North Division contenders, with the fullback making numerous runs for the Chicago outfit.
As a result, it appears Lasike has scored a spot in the Bears' 53-man squad, as reported by 670 The Score and CBS Chicago reporter Chris Emma.
Lasike was rejected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 pre-season, failing to make their 53-man roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent.
The Bears had signed two players earlier in the year in the same position as Lasike to provide competition for the fullback spot in the squad, but both have since been dropped.
Lasike's spot in the Bears roster was reportedly confirmed following his performance against the Cleveland Browns last week, where one of his plays was tweeted out by the official NFL account, with the caption: "Paul Lasike is a BEAST".
Lasike joins fellow New Zealander Rhett Ellison as Kiwis plying their trade in the NFL.
27-year-old Minnesota Viking tight end Ellison - of Ngāi Tahu descent - is the son of three-time Super Bowl winning linebacker Riki Ellison, grandnephew of Thomas Ellison, the first ever All Blacks captain when the side toured Australia in 1893, and is related to former All Black Tamati Ellison and former Hurricanes and Highlanders prop Jacob Ellison.
He has been on the Minnesota Vikings roster since 2012, scoring three touchdowns in that time.
Lasike posted a mysterious single-worded tweet on Sunday morning (NZT) saying "Blessed", possibly hinting at confirmation of his inclusion in the 53-man roster.
Tony DeNobrega is recovering in hospital after a terrible injury during a match in Perth.