With the regular season rapidly approaching, the Chicago Bears are still on the hunt for pass rushers.
After missing out on Matthew Judon, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 15, head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff will have to look elsewhere.
According to a report from Beth Mishler-Elmore at Heavy.com, veteran free agent linebacker Justin Houston may be the team’s best remaining option.
Houston, who has played for five teams in 13 seasons, has ties to the Chicago Bears coaching staff and posted 9.5 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022.
Getting to the quarterback has been a major problem for the Bears for the last two seasons. Chicago finished 31st in total sacks last year with 30 and was dead last following the 2022 campaign (22).
No team that made the 2023 playoffs had fewer than 41 sacks (Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams).
Since the departure of defensive end Robert Quinn, who registered 18 1/2 sacks in 2021, the Bears have been led by Jaquan Brisker (4.0) and Montez Sweat (6.0) in the last two seasons.
Houston is a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro with 112.0 career sacks in 170 games. His ties to the Bears start with Chicago’s general manager Ryan Poles, who served as the college scouting coordinator/scouting director for the Kansas City Chiefs while Houston played there.
He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Indianapolis playing under Eberflus, who was the Colts' defensive coordinator.
“He spent two seasons working under Eberflus with the Colts, tallying 11.0 and 8.0 sacks in those respective years,” Windy City Gridiron’s Jacob Infante said. “He’s arguably best in a rotational role at this stage of his career, which is likely what the Bears would offer him. Familiarity and a path to playing time could be enticing as Houston looks for a spot in what could be his final season.”
Justin Houston spent last season with the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins, appearing in seven games with the Panthers before going on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. After his release, he landed in Miami but did not take the field for them.
While his age and durability may be a concern, the Bears could view the reward as greater than the potential risk.
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