Bears lose a vital defender for the duration of the campaign.
For the whole of the 2023 season, the Chicago Bears will be without one of their best defenders and seasoned leaders.
In the team’s Week 14 victory over the Detroit Lions, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue broke his ankle. As a result, he will be placed on injured reserve until the end of the season, according to a statement made by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus on Wednesday.
In 2023, Ngakoue leads the Bears with 4.0 sacks, seven quarterback hits, and six tackles for a loss.
Prior to the season beginning in August, Ngakoue signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Bears. Prior to 2023, the eight-year veteran has more than eight sacks in every NFL season of his career.
“I would like to commend him for being an absolute pro,” Eberflus stated in a media interview. “He was a huge assistance to our young men all year long. He’s a fantastic colleague, which I truly appreciate.”
Ngakoue had one sack and three combined tackles in Week 14 against the Lions prior to the injury. Eberflus noted the injury occurred during one of the team’s last two minute drives and the injury will require surgery.
The Bears added defensive end Montez Sweat to the pass rush unit at the 2023 NFL trade deadline which helped open things up for the entire defense. Ngakoue recorded two of his four sacks since Sweat joined the team in Week 9.
During the next four games of the season, Sweat and the other young pass rushers on the squad will need to step up in Ngakoue’s absence.
Eberflus said, “It’s an opportunity for some other guys.” “We’ve been rotating a lot of guys in there and for me, it’s about finding the right combination.”
DeMarcus Walker (1.5), Dominique Robinson (0.5), and Rasheem Green (2.0) are the only defensive ends with a season-long sack total besides Sweat.
Robinson has been a healthy inactive for the final six games of the season, while Green and Walker have been switching back and forth between the defensive line. On Sunday, we’ll find out just how the Bears intend to handle the surprise defeat.
