Ngakoue came up with some key plays against the Lions on Sunday, including a sack on a neat play. The Bears drew up an exotic pressure, with Tremaine Edmunds rushing from the second level and DeMarcus Walker dropping into coverage from the defensive tackle position. In the end, Ngakoue was able to win a one-on-one battle to bring down Lions QB Jared Goff.

Ngakoue added a TFL in addition to the sack.

The Bears signed Ngakoue to a one-year deal this year in an effort to boost their lowly pass rush. He has four sacks, seven QB hits and six TFLs on the season.

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Here’s the full list of Bears inactives for their Week 14 game:

It’s worth noting that both Tyler Scott (hamstring) and Velus Jones Jr. (illness) are active, since each man was considered questionable to play. That means the Bears will have both of their top-two kick returners ready to roll, and will have their typical depth at the back end of the wide receivers group. Equanimeous St. Brown is inactive and was ruled out on Friday with a pectoral injury. He’s considered week-to-week. The team called up Collin Johnson from the practice squad in case Scott or Jones Jr. couldn’t play, but since they’re each good to go, the team made Johnson inactive.

Other inactives include guard Ja’Tyre Carter, defensive back Quindell Johnson, defensive end Dominique Robinson and quarterback Nathan Peterman. All of them are depth players buried at the back of their respective position groups.

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If Scott and Jones Jr. each can’t play that would shine a light on Darnell Mooney and Trent Taylor to pick up the slack behind DJ Moore. The team could also consider elevating Nsimba Webster or Collin Johnson from the practice squad. It would also leave the team without its top two kick returners. Khalil Herbert has returned kicks for the Bears in the past and he could slide into that role again. Travis Homer is another option for kick return.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is questionable to play with a knee injury that popped up on Thursday’s report. Ngakoue was able to practice in full on Friday, however, so he’s trending in the right direction. The expectation is that Ngakoue will be able to play against the Lions.

The offense got some good news as D’Onta Foreman and Larry Borom each enter Week 14 without a game designation. Foreman has battled through an ankle injury for weeks and emerged as one of the most effective players in the rushing game. Borom plays an important role as the team’s swing tackle in case Braxton Jones or Darnell Wright get hurt.

Finally, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and linebacker Noah Sewell are each healthy enough to play on Sunday. Stevenson missed the Bears’ game against the Vikings with an ankle injury. Now he’s set to re-enter the lineup, although coaches have said he’ll rotate in and out of the defense along with fellow rookie Terell Smith. Sewell has largely played on special teams this year, but will also act as the backup strongside linebacker if needed.

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STUDS

YANNICK NGAKOUE

When the Bears signed Yannick Ngakoue over the summer, the thought was he could boost the team’s pass rush single-handedly. It didn’t work out that way, though. The defensive line still struggled to get home with any consistency over the first half of the season. So Ryan Poles made a big move to acquire and extend Montez Sweat, and Sweat’s presence seems to have helped Ngakoue. The two defensive ends pressured Bryce Young early and often on Thursday night, but it was Ngakoue who stuffed the stat sheet a bit more. He ended the night with one sack and one TFL. He was impressive both on stunts, and in pursuit, making stops from behind the play.

CAIRO SANTOS

Santos remains the most consistent player on the Bears this season. The kicker was money, as always, and he connected on all three of his field goal attempts and his lone PAT, including a 54-yarder. What made that kick even more impressive was that Santos had to hit for a second snap in a row. For a moment it looked like Santos had gotten the Bears on the board with a 49-yard kick, but Cody Whitehair moved too fast and was flagged for a false start. Santos had to try again from 54. Obviously, it was no bother to the veteran.

KYLER GORDON

One could argue that the biggest disruptor at the line of scrimmage wasn’t a defensive lineman, it was nickel back Kyler Gordon. He was active right at the sticks throughout the night, both in run defense and pass defense. Gordon showed great instincts to make plays on the ball and was probably the best tackler on the entire team. More on that later. Gordon was flagged for illegal contact on a third-and-three play that otherwise would have been a defensive stop, but at first glance it might have been a soft call.

DUDS

TYSON BAGENT

Bagent looked as uncomfortable and inaccurate as he has all season on Thursday night. It’s unclear if the rookie quarterback was a little hesitant after his four-turnover game in Week 9, but he only took a few shots down the field throughout the game. At times, Bagent appeared to have open receivers streaking vertically, but Bagent either didn’t see them or didn’t like what he saw. Instead, Bagent opted for check downs and modest scrambles. Bagent didn’t turn the ball over, which was good, but he didn’t make many high-impact plays either.

JAQUAN BRISKER

Brisker returned to the Bears starting lineup after missing the previous week with a concussion and looked a little rusty. The normally sure tackler whiffed on a couple of stops in run defense. Brisker’s worst missed tackle came on a Bryce Young scramble early in the game. It appeared Brisker had Young dead to rights on third down, but he let Young escape for a first down. Brisker was also the man in coverage on a deep pass to practice squad call up Mike Strachan that set up a Panthers field goal.

TACKLING

Once again, the Bears let ball carriers slip through their fingers too many times. The worst moment was Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s punt return touchdown when a host of Bears failed to make a stop. This has been a consistent issue for the team all season and reflects poorly on both the players and coaches.

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The biggest development was starting right tackle Darnell Wright being downgraded from “limited” on Wednesday to “did not participate” on Thursday due to his shoulder injury. If Wright does not improve enough to play on Sunday, the Bears could have a situation where they have zero starting offensive linemen playing the positions they practiced at throughout the summer.

Throughout the line, starting left tackle Braxton Jones is on injured reserve, starting left guard Teven Jekins is healthy but could be on the move soon, starting center Cody Whitehair was benched for Lucas Patrick, starting right guard Nate Davis is considered week-to-week with an ankle injury, and now Wright is trending in the wrong direction. There are so many potential offensive line combinations that there is a world in which Jenkins stays at left guard. However, there’s a chance the team moves him back to right guard or even right tackle and re-inserts Whitehair at left guard. 

Dan Feeney was also downgraded to DNP from limited with a knee injury. If he and Wright can’t play, the Bears would be down to Larry Borom, Jenkins, Whitehair, Patrick, Ja’Tyre Carter and Aviante Collins as their only healthy linemen. Even if the team promotes a player from the practice squad, it’s not a great situation for a team that’s set to have an undrafted free agent from a D-II school make his first start.

Speaking of quarterbacks, Justin Fields did not participate in practice on Thursday, as expected. On Wednesday, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Fields is doubtful to play this week due to his dislocated thumb. Eberflus also said the swelling has gone down on Fields’ thumb which leaves the door open just a crack for Fields to tape the thumb up and start against the Raiders. But Eberflus still hasn’t shut the door on Fields needing surgery– and extended time off– to recover, too.

The final bit of bad news was that Eddie Jackson downgraded from limited to DNP with his foot injury. Jackson initially hurt himself in Week 2 and missed three games. He returned to action against the Vikings, but the injury flared up and Jackson had to leave the game early. After the game, the Bears said the injury wouldn’t have prevented Jackson from re-entering the game if needed.

Amidst all those negative developments, the Bears had a couple of positives. First, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue was upgraded to a full participant at Thursday’s practice after being limited on Wednesday with a back injury. Ngakoue is tied with T.J. Edwards for the team lead with two sacks. Further, Travis Homer was a full participant after being limited with a hamstring injury on Thursday. Homer missed a game and a half due to that injury and has been a key contributor on special teams when healthy.

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Beyond QB1, the Bears had plenty of other updates in their first injury report of the week.

Two new starters popped up on the injury report on Wednesday. Pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue was limited with a back injury and right tackle Darnell Wright was limited with a shoulder injury. The Bears signed Ngakoue over the summer to boost the pass rush at defensive end. Ngakoue has two sacks and four TFLs this season. Meanwhile, Wright has been the only fixture on the Bears offensive line this season. Up to this point, he’s been the only man to start every game at the same position on the OL. There have been moments when Wright struggled against premiere pass rushers or when he missed assignments, as would be expected for any rookie tackle. But for the most part Wright has been solid in both run blocking and pass protection.

The Bears are still without their top two running backs, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. Herbert (ankle) and Johnson (concussion) did not play against the Vikings, so D’Onta Foreman and Darrynton Evans carried the load out of the backfield with a couple of Velus Jones carries sprinkled into the mix. Johnson still has not cleared the concussion protocol and Herbert is on injured reserve. The Bears did get running back Travis Homer back at practice, which will primarily give the team a boost on special teams.

Other players on the injury report include Eddie Jackson who was limited with the foot injury that has bothered him throughout the year. Jackson initially hurt his foot– the same foot affected by a Lisfranc injury last season– in Week 2 against the Buccaneers. He returned to action against the Vikings, but the injury flared up and Jackson had to leave the game early. The Bears said the injury wouldn’t have prevented Jackson from re-entering the game if needed. Terell Smith did not participate since he has mononucleosis. The team expects he’ll miss several weeks with the illness. Finally, reserve interior lineman Dan Feeney was limited with a knee injury. Feeney has played two snaps on offense this year.

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Their second best chance is finding a way to hit, affect, disrupt, and sack Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ defense relies heavily on the defensive line’s ability to get pressure with four. The Bears have not been able to do that through three weeks this season. In their first three losses, the Bears have played zone on over 70 percent of snaps but only have a pressure rate of 9 percent.

That’s a recipe for disaster that has them with a league-worst one sack through three games. Through their first 10 quarters of play this season, the Bears had recorded just one sack and had not forced a turnover. They only have two turnovers on their ledger because Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw them two balls during garbage time in Week 3.

If Eberflus isn’t going to blitz, the Bears’ only hope on defense is for Yannick Ngakoue, DeMarcus Walker, Justin Jones, and Andrew Billings to start winning upfront at a higher clip.

“You know, it’s something we got to do better,” Eberflus said Wednesday at Halas Hall about getting to the quarterback. “We got to do it better. We’re going to continue to do that. We’re going to continue sending four guys and playing some coverage. We obviously got to send five some time, send six. But again, we just got to do a good job. We’ve gotten home some and we’ve missed some sacks in the pocket. We have to do a better job with that, making sure we do a good job of getting the guys down when we do have pressure. But again, that number has got to improve for sure.”

Wilson has already been sacked 10 times this season, which is ninth most in the NFL. Per Pro Football Focus, Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey has given up the fourth-most pressures among tackles (15). Guard Ben Powers is tied for 16th among guards with eight pressures allowed. Both McGlinchey and Powers have pass-block grades hovering in the low 50s.

That’s something the Bears must take advantage of Sunday when the 0-3 Broncos visit Soldier Field.

“They come in bunches,” Ngakoue said Wednesday. “Hopefully this week we can put everything together and be able to change that.”

On the season, Ngakoue has one sack, 12 pressures, and a win rate of 6.7 percent, per PFF. That ranks 97th in the NFL. For $10 million a year, that’s not good enough.

Billings, the Bears’ run-stopping nose tackle, leads the team with a 14 percent pass-rush win rate. That’s a bonus. Walker, meanwhile, checks in at 12.2 percent, which ranks 48th, but has yet to bring the quarterback down.

Rookie defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens have been non-factors in the pass rush. Pickens has yet to win a pass-rush rep, per PFF.

The lack of production from the Bears’ role rushers makes Ngakoue’s 6.7 percent win rate all the more alarming. The Bears brought him in to anchor this defensive line, and they need him to play up to that standard.

While the Bears haven’t wreaked havoc in the backfield, they believe it’s only a matter of time before their defensive line breaks through. After opening the season with just six total pressures against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears recorded 22 and 15 pressures, respectively, in Weeks 2 and 3.

That trend gives them hope that they’ll be a party in the backfield soon.

“We have a lot of quarterback hits, a lot of quarterback hurries,” Ngakoue said. “We just have to finish and maximize on those opportunities and bringing the quarterback down.

“Just keep scratching and clawing. Rushing is not about just giving up, it’s about continuing to fight. Like I said earlier, they come in bunches. We can have a game where we have more than five sacks, it’s all about just keep working.”

BEARS ANALYSIS

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The Bears, in fact, rank dead last in quarterback hits with nine. They also rank last in third down conversion rate allowed (62.0) and 25th in pressure percentage (30.6).

The Bears’ lack of consistent pass rush has exposed linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, two big offseason additions, in pass coverage.

Per Next Gen Stats, opposing quarterbacks are 25-for-27 for 234 yards and two touchdowns when targeting Edmunds and Edwards this season.

Edmunds has been especially disappointing through three games Yes, he has been a tackling machine, but he has missed 14.3 percent of his tackles, hasn’t forced, a fumble, and has not broken up a pass.

Those are troubling numbers for a guy the Bears shelled out a four-year, $72 million contract for to be a key cog in Eberflus’ defense.

Early returns have been underwhelming. Eberflus has seen some good things from Edmunds, but the Bears are working with him to deliver impact plays.

“He’s had a lot of nice big hits in there I think will generate enthusiasm,” Eberflus said Wednesday of Edmunds. “As he does those, he has to do a good job of punching the ball at the same time to create impact plays. We’re working on that. We’re working on lower his tackling a little bit to make sure he can get down to that position where you need to be to create those big plays. And he’s gonna work diligently to get that done.”

That needs to happen immediately.

As for Edwards, he is missing 8.7 percent of his tackles, which is a good number, but has been picked on in coverage and has yet to take the ball away.

It’s not just Edmunds and Edwards who are being picked on, though. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 68.7 percent of their passes against the Bears for 8.7 yards per attempt. Those numbers rank 25th and 31st, respectively. The Bears are also allowing a passer rating of 110.9, which ranks 28th.

The Bears can’t get to the quarterback, struggle to turn teams over, and their defense has been shredded because of it.

Sunday’s game against the Broncos is one where the Bears’ front seven must get home, and Eberflus, who will once again be calling the defensive plays, has to dial up the pressure to create turnovers.

In Week 2, the Broncos gave up 14 quarterback hits and seven sacks, per Pro Football Reference. They gave up 12 hits and one sack in their 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins last week.

The Broncos are the definition of beatable. The Bears need a win, or they are in danger of watching this season devolve quickly.

Ngakoue, Edmunds, Walker, and Edwards were the Bears’ splashy defensive additions this offseason. They have been invisible thus far, and the numbers reflect MIA defensive stars.

With the offense lacking rhythm and explosiveness, the offensive line banged up, and the secondary likely down several key members, the Bears’ big-ticket offseason additions — Ngakoue, Edmunds, Walker, and Edwards — must carry them to their first win of the season. They must stop the run, pressure Wilson, finish the job when they get home, and turn the ball over.

If Sunday isn’t their moment, it might never arrive in 2023.

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The most surprising player who returned to practice was Cole Kmet, who left Wednesday’s practice on a cart. But he was back on Thursday like nothing happened.

“He’s all squared away,” said head coach Matt Eberflus. “He’s fine. There’s nothing wrong there. Cole’s as normal as he can be.”

That’s big, as the newly-extended tight end figures to play a big role in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s offense both as a blocker and pass catcher.

The most significant return was Yannick Ngakoue. The prized free agent defensive end signing hasn’t seen much of the field since he first practiced with the team over two weeks ago. It’s been unclear how much of Ngakoue’s absence has been due to Eberflus’ ramp up system to slowly increase the workload for players who have missed time, and how much of his absence was due to an injury. If the Bears want to start fast this season, they’ll need Ngakoue rushing the passer at full speed.

The running back room was almost back to full strength, as D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer each returned after sitting out the end of Wednesday’s practice. The Bears boasted the best rushing attack in the NFL in 2022 and there’s reason to believe they could be even better this season. Foreman should be a big part of that, while Homer figures to be a core special teams contributor. Second-year back Trestan Ebner remains out, and finds himself on the roster bubble due to his extended absence.

Finally, tight end Marcedes Lewis and defensive end Rasheem Green each returned after one day off. It’s unclear if these two guys missed due to a minor malady, or if they were given a veteran day off. Green has emerged as a top-line pass rusher with DeMarcus Walker out for most of the month. Meanwhile, the Bears brought in Lewis not only to act as a veteran presence in the locker room to work as an effective run blocker off the edges.

The team was still without many players, including key starters on the offensive line like Teven Jenkins, Nate Davis and Darnell Wright. The Bears anticipate Jenkins being out for an extended amount of time while they maintain Davis and Wright are dealing with day-to-day issues. This unit is worth monitoring the most since they’ll be tasked with keeping Justin Fields out of harm’s way during Saturday’s preseason finale.

The team is still working out exactly how many snaps Fields and the rest of the starters will play, but however long he’s out there, he’ll either be playing behind a patchwork o-line, or behind blockers who haven’t gotten a ton of work recently. Eberflus said earlier this week that how the offensive line fares would play a role in the decision to play Fields or sit him this Saturday. Over the past week or so, Eberflus has seen enough from the backups who have been playing with the ones to feel good about putting Fields in the line of fire.

“They’ve done a nice job so far in terms of executing the offense,” Eberflus said. “We feel good where those guys are right now.”

Even though the team’s health trended in the right direction on Thursday, the Bears are still without many players who figure to either start or play key roles on the team. Starting safeties Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson remained sidelined, along with first-team wide receiver Chase Claypool, return man Velus Jones Jr., starting defensive end Walker and special teams standout Josh Blackwell. The other Bears who sat out on Thursday were Jaylon Jones, DeMarquis Gates, Dylan Cole, Lucas Patrick, Joe Reed and Dante Pettis.

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Kmet exited team drills early in practice and rode back from the Walter Payton Center on a cart. The Bears did not comment on the injury. Head coach Matt Eberflus will speak with the media Thursday.

Kmet’s early practice exit adds to a growing list of injured Bears that reached 21 players by the time practice ended Wednesday.

While the training area in the corner of the WPC was overflowing Wednesday, the Bears aren’t concerned by the string of snake bites to key players, including right tackle Darnell Wright, safeties Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker, wide receiver Chase Claypool, defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker, and offensive linemen Nate Davis and Lucas Patrick. Starting left guard Teven Jenkins was given a week-to-week status and could miss time into October.

“I mean, this is my sixth year in man, that’s just training camp,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who returned to practice for the first time in three weeks Monday, said. “Things are going to come up. That’s life in the NFL. Coach preach it, different people preach it across the league. It’s kind of like that next man up mentality. I feel like every position – obviously, when your twos and your threes are training like they are going to be that team, that’s when you have a dynamic guy. That’s when you have a good team. Sometimes, you find out a lot about yourself when somebody else have to step in and grow up. Obviously, it’s a situation that you don’t necessarily want to be in but I think when you are in that situation, you can find out more about your team and more about your depth, find out more about different things that you couldn’t predict from the start of the season.”

“I think that it’ll be fine,” running back D’Onta Foreman, who was limited Wednesday and had a limp, said after practice. “Around the teams I’ve been on, I’ve seen these types of things happen, but they always roll back around, and things are going to end up being fine.”

Yes, the Bears have time. That’s true. It’s possible that a number of the key players doing planks and band walks on Wednesday will be ready to go by Week 1.

But we’re also getting to the point where it’s hard to brush this off as just training camp bumps and bruises. Several of these situations have been going on for weeks, and some players who have returned and started ramping up appear to have suffered setbacks.

First, there’s Wright.

The rookie right tackle suffered an ankle injury in Tuesday’s practice. He limped off the field and didn’t return to team drills. On Wednesday, Wright had a noticeable limp and a light brace on his ankle. Larry Borom is the next man up at right tackle.

With Jenkins out, the Bears plan to have Lucas Patrick as the first-team center, with Cody Whitehair moving over to left guard. But that picture is in complete flux right now. Whitehair has a wrap on his right hand after suffering an injury last week in joint practices. Meanwhile, Patrick returned to practice for the first time in several weeks on Monday, but he was limited Tuesday and did not participate Wednesday.

Right guard Nate Davis missed a large chunk of time earlier in camp. He returned last week and has been ramping up. But Davis was among those not participating Wednesday. He has taken limited team snaps in practice since returning.

“I guess when you say everything is fluid, you could get thrown a different curveball every day,” offensive line coach Chris Morgan said Wednesday. “The health of your team is different every day.

“You want consistency. You want the best five, the same five out there. But you guys know that it doesn’t always happen like that. These other guys have been training, working hard, ready to, next man up. It does create great opportunity, you know what I mean? For guys that have been second-team, third-team guys. Creates great opportunity, great experience. The rest of these guys that are injured or hurt or whatever it is, they’ll get back as fast as they can and that’s football.”

Five of the Bears’ best six offensive linemen are either injured, banged up, or trying to ramp up. That’s a problem on Aug. 23. But the retooled offensive arsenal is also bleeding fuel. Kmet left Wednesday, and Claypool has been out for two weeks after being a full participant in the first 11 practices.

“Claypool is progressing really well,” wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said Wednesday. “He was doing a pretty job, having a really good fall camp before he pulled his hamstring. He’s really learning the offense really well. As a matter of fact, while he’s been out, I quiz him more than anybody in the wide receiver room to make sure he’s on top of everything. He always answers the questions.”

BEARS ANALYSIS

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The Bears are leaning on the value of off-field chemistry as the team training room approaches capacity.

Edmunds returned Monday, but a Bears defense with stratospheric expectations is missing both safeties and its top three pass rushers.

When fully healthy, the Bears’ defense has a nasty edge. They talk a lot and believe they can back up. But the connective tissue needed to realize those expectations can’t be developed with four starters on the sidelines and one just returning.

The Bears are confident they can hit the ground running if everyone can get back by Week 1, but that’s putting a lot of faith in what goes on off-turf.

“I think first off, I wouldn’t necessarily say flip the switch because even if that is the case we’re still taking strides here at practice..” Edmunds said when asked if the defense can turn it on with limited reps at full strength. “So as far as flipping the switch, it’s not like we’re just going into it and not prepared as far as not communicating with one another, getting on the same page with one another. As far as uncontrollables, some things you just can’t control. You know, if that’s the case, then those are things that we can’t control, so those are things that obviously you’re going to have to work through. But it just goes back to us relying on the trust factor that we have as far as the practice that we put in, the walk-throughs that we have, the meetings that we have. So whether it’s an extra emphasis toward that, then that’s one thing, but as far as flipping the switch, we’re professionals, man, and doing what we have to do to have our bodies ready, doing what we have to do to make sure we’re on a winning chord, that’s something that we’ll just have to look into when that time gets here.”

Of the 21 players who are either injured, banged up, limited, or in “ramp-up” mode, 13 would be considered starters or key contributors.

The injury issues are costing the Bears valuable time on turf. They also could force them to sit quarterback Justin Fields in the preseason finale instead of putting him behind a patchwork offensive line that likely will only have one expected starter in Braxton Jones.

That means an offense with “A to Z” issues with execution, detail, and precision will lose its final opportunity for live game reps before Week 1.

But with Fields, Jones, Darnell Mooney, DJ Moore, and Khalil Herbert being the only fully healthy starters on the first-team offense, any progress they might make Saturday would be minimal at best.

Time is still on the Bears’ side. Several of these absences could be precautionary. But the walking wounded are growing at Halas Hall, and their one saving grace will eventually become their enemy as Week 1 approaches.

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Ngakoue is on a ramp-up plan after signing with the Bears on Aug. 3. The 28-year-old has taken just a handful of reps during team drills in practice, but he has been on the sidelines giving advice and pointers to the likes of Gervon Dexter, Rasheem Green, Justin Jones, and Terrell Lewis.

Ngakoue upped his rep count a touch Wednesday during the first day of joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana.

While the Bears haven’t turned Ngakoue loose fully, that hasn’t stopped them from thinking about how they plan to deploy him in head coach Matt Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams’ system.

Just the opposite.

“Yeah, we’re developing that now,” Williams said Wednesday when asked if he had a plan for using Ngakoue. “We had an idea when he came in, what we wanted to do with him, so we’re going back and forth to see what he can do, which we have an idea and how he fits in the system and where we can put him to maximize what he does, so we’ve got a good idea, I’m just not going to tell you just yet. You got to wait and see. But, no, I think you’re going to like what you see from him.”

Williams said Ngakoue is “champing at the bit” to be full-go during team drills, but the Bears want to let him continue to build up to that moment.

Ngakoue already has experience in the defensive system the Bears’ run from his time playing for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and current Bears defensive line coach Travis Smith in Las Vegas.

The Bears believe the transition won’t be much of a transition at all for Ngakoue.

“I think he fits really well,” Eberflus said when the Bears signed Ngakoue. “He was with Marinelli in Vegas, which was cool, and Travis. So he was in that same type of scheme there. He was with Gus [Bradley] last year — same type of scheme, four down in front. Getting vertical on the edges. So it’s really the same type. It’s not gonna be a stretch for him. He fits really well, so we’re excited about that. And we had some intel on him. Obviously, what kind of teammate he is. What kind of person he is. What kind of worker he is. And he checked all the boxes there for us. He’s gonna be a good addition.”

CHICAGO BEARS

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With Ngakoue ramping up and several key defensive starters, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jaquan Brisker, missing time, the Bears’ defense has yet to get a feel for how good it can be.

But they have an idea.

“Sky is the limit with this group I feel like,” Jones told NBC Sports Chicago after the Bears’ first preseason game. “We got some scary, scary f—ing guys. And I feel like everybody is on the same page, everybody is really genuine, and everybody really wants to see each other win. I feel like that’s going to be the glue. We go as our defense goes, and I feel like we’re on the right track, especially once we get everyone back. It’s going to be scary.”

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“I’m ready to go back there and pick his brain right now,” Dexter said.

He wasn’t lying.

Ngakoue is still on a ramp-up plan in practice, but the veteran edge rusher has pulled Dexter aside during team drills to give him pointers and a tutorial on his famous cross-chop move.

“I just see a lot of potential in him,” Ngakoue said Monday at Halas Hall. “I see a lot of myself in him as well. His first step is quick, he’s a young guy and I feel like he can be a Day 1 guy that can just affect the quarterback, affect the run game, so I just wanted to share my knowledge with him, and you can always learn stuff from the young guys as well.”

Ngakoue’s cross-chop is one of the most-talked-about pass-rush moves in the NFL. Finding a way to arm Dexter with it could help accelerate his rebuild.

“Just working on hand and eye coordination. Just basically working on our steps and he was just asking me, ‘How did I perfect that move and what do I see when I’m throwing that move?’” Ngakoue said. “I was just giving him some nuggets to try to patten his game.”

CHICAGO BEARS

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The cross-chop might seem like a move that’s easier for edge rushers to utilize than interior defensive linemen, but Ngakoue points to two of the greatest defensive tackle in history who had the move atop their arsenal.

“I wouldn’t say that because you have guys like Aaron Donald who has a great cross-chop,” Ngakoue said. “You have guys that came in our past like Warren Sapp had a really good cross-chop. It’s just about allowing that move to be one of your number one arsenals. It just takes time. Repetition, repetition.”

The Bears have big dreams for Dexter. The second-round pick has made consistent progress on changing his stance and improving his get-off.

Dexter will spend all season in the lab. The Bears are playing the long game with the Florida product. They believe he can be effective in a role this fall while building toward becoming the dominant three-technique they saw in flashes on film in college.

Armed with Ngakoue’s help, Dexter just might be able to ascend quicker than expected.

Class is in session at Halas Hall, and Ngakoue plans to hold office hours whenever a lesson is needed.

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Ngakoue immediately gives the Bears’ pass rush a reliable veteran with a history of consistently pressuring the quarterback. The Bears believe the addition of Ngakoue will help their rebuilt secondary thrive. There’s also belief that Ngakoue’s impact can be greater than pressures, hurries, and sacks.

After taking a few days to pack up things at home, Ngakoue arrived at Halas Hall on Tuesday to start his ramp-up period.

Rookie Gervon Dexter has been itching to get in the ear of a pass-rusher whose cross-chop is famous around the NFL.

“I’m ready to go back and pick his brain right now,” Dexter said Tuesday after practice. “He is a great guy. Even coming to the room, he introduced himself. You can tell he’s a great leader. He’s a great guy as well. He has all the tools, so I’m definitely super eager to go in there and pick his brain.”

While Ngakoue didn’t participate in team drills Tuesday, he spent a lot of time talking to Justin Jones, Rasheem Green, Terrell Lewis, and other edge rushers when they were on the sidelines.

Ngkaoue should make everyone better. But allowing Dexter and fellow rookie Zacch Pickens to observe how he works and pick his brain for at least a year can potentially have long-term ramifications.

Expect Dexter and Pickens to be hounding Ngakoue in meetings, film sessions, and on the practice field.

Both the young defensive tackles have shown impressive growth early in their NFL careers, but Ngakoue’s arrival could wind up being a vital accelerant.

The Bears also believe adding Ngakoue will help accelerate the development of second-year left tackle Braxton Jones and rookie right tackle Darnell Wright.

Even before Ngakoue arrived, the Bears started giving Jones and Wright different looks in individual drills. Facing Ngakoue provides the Bears’ young tackles with an elite edge rusher to measure themselves against.

“I think it’s just going against a different skill set,” head coach Matt Eberflus said about Ngakoue’s impact on Jones and Wright. “We started to mix that up again today. We had guys going with the same guy every single time in 1-on-1 pass rush. During our meeting we evaluated each player yesterday in our meeting with the scouts, we talked about what matchups we want to see, so we kind of switched them up, mixed that up today, and that was better and we’re going to continue to do that. But adding that piece to it is the same thing; you’re going to be able to see a different skill set and a different guy rushing them.”

CHICAGO BEARS

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Ngakoue’s potential impact on the younger members of the Bears’ roster is important. But it’s secondary to what they hope he provides on the field to a defense that struggled to breathe on opposing quarterbacks last season.

The Bears were already confident about their defense this season. They have seen growth from Brisker and second-year cornerback Kyler Gordon. The additions of linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards give them one of the best linebacking corps in football.

They needed an impactful edge rusher. Now, one has arrived.

“It’s just getting scarier and scarier,” Jackson said after the Bears signed Ngakoue. “You know, you’re just adding more talent and more talent. When that starts to mesh together it’s, I mean, everyone in here, has seen what’s going to happen. When you’ve got a lot of large group of talented players and people that’s actually locked in and really love football, that’s just more fuel to the fire. We feel like, ‘OK we just keep taking it up a notch.’ Now we done added him. It’s like, ‘oh man, it’s up,’ like this thing is headed in the right direction.”

Yannick Ngakoue’s value to the Bears starts with rushing the passer. But the Bears hope he can be much more than that. If he can meet their expectations, his impact will wind up being much greater than the number of sacks on Sunday.

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They went into the offseason with around $100 million, the most cap space of any team in the NFL by a wide margin.

The Bears, however, went on a shopping spree this offseason. They spent big money on Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet and recently Yannick Ngakoue, who they delivered a one-year contract worth $10.5 million.

Currently, the Bears have just under $28 million in cap space, according to Spotrac’s calculations. Though, that projection does not include the contracts of Ngakoue or Marcedes Lewis. A simple subtraction of Ngakoue’s reported $10.5 million deal (Lewis’ is not yet known) would bring the number precisely to $17,497,692. That number would give them the seventh-most cap room in the NFL.

Remember: the Bears, along with the rest of the NFL, have upwards of 80-90 contracts signed. That will reduce, in some fashion, to 53 contracts on Aug. 29, the NFL’s league-wide cut day.

The Bears are also incurring a significant amount of dead cap this season — around $23 million. That’s the 14th most in the NFL this season. The Bears owe dead cap for the contracts of Robert Quinn ($13 million), Danny Trevathan ($3 million) Mario Edwards Jr. ($2 million) and minimal payouts on six other contracts.

More, the Bears have in-house financials to sort out, too. Jaylon Johnson, Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool are all eligible for extensions. Justin Fields, hopefully, plays well enough this season to earn himself a rookie extension next offseason. Not to mention, the Bears will want to make bigger splashes in free agency down the road.

Another takeaway: the Bears aren’t done building. This offseason represents one step towards the full-scale rebuild they started one summer ago. And while they’ve been productive in bolstering the roster, there is plenty of work left to be done.

They’re in a healthy place now. They spent a lot, yes. But they didn’t overspend. The front office’s patience is undeniable.

Look at Ngakoue’s signing. The edge rusher is a premier position in the NFL. Yet, the Bears didn’t rush to a conclusion. They didn’t draft an edge rusher in the 2023 NFL draft and they didn’t try to trade for some of the league’s biggest names. They kept the process organic.

Ngakoue might not be the end of the road, either. Remember, he signed with the Bears on a one-year contract. If he doesn’t live up to expectations, or the Bears don’t see a fit for him in the future, they owe him nothing past this season.

The Bears aren’t shy of making backup plans. That’s why they have a healthy amount of money in the bank and a war chest of draft assets, too.

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The word on Ngakoue is that although he’s an incredibly talented pass rusher, his run defense leaves something to be desired. If you’re into this sort of thing, from 2020-2022, PFF has graded Ngakoue’s pass rush between 56.9 and 76.2. He topped out at a 90.5 grade in 2017. From 2019-2022, PFF graded Ngakoue’s run defense between 28.2 and 45.8. The 28.2 was his worst grade, and it came in 2021.

Ngakoue has consistently played between 70% – 80% of a defense’s snaps, but with a rep like that against the run, some have questioned whether he might be better suited as a situational player, when offenses are backed up in obvious passing downs. The Bears don’t buy that and Matt Eberflus said Ngakoue will continue to be a three-down defensive end in Chicago. Further, Bears coaches believe the criticism of Ngakoue’s run defense is overblown.

“He’ll be just fine,” said defensive coordinator Alan Williams. “He can choke a guy out. Believe me about that. He can choke a guy out.

“We are going to stop the run and we are going to earn the right to rush the passer. He’ll be part of that too. The mentality is we stop the run. He’ll be just fine. I’ve watched the tape, and he’ll choke a guy out too.”

The Bears will need Ngakoue to play well against the run, considering it was one of their biggest deficiencies last season. In 2022, the Bears surrendered the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL (31), the most rushing first downs (151), the second-most rushing yards (2,674) and tied for the sixth-worst yards per carry average (4.9).

It’s not surprising that after seeing those numbers, some are focused on how Ngakoue can help or hurt in that area. But Ngakoue has a message for those who still doubt his run-stopping prowess.

“They’ll see this year.”

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They know the needs of their beloved team and aren’t afraid to voice them. That’s why Ryan Poles commended the fans who advised him to sign an edge rusher when they saw him in public.

Seeing as the Bears’ defense recorded the fewest number of sacks of any team last season (20), fans knew they couldn’t pass on the opportunity to share their two cents when seeing Poles. The team desperately needed to improve their pass-rushing attack.

“First of all, you’ve gotta love the Bears fan base and how passionate they are,” Poles said Saturday. “If it was at my son’s baseball game, people yelling from the field, coaches at third base yelling to me, or literally on the beach in Maui, I was reminded that I need to sign a defensive end. Finally got that done.”

On Thursday, the Bears signed Yannick Ngakoue, a seven-year veteran edge rusher. They signed him to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million — $10 million, of which, is guaranteed.

Ngakoue is a consistent, durable veteran. He played on five different teams before joining the Bears. And though his constant travels might turn off some fans, he’s recorded at least eight sacks and missed two games maximum over each of the past seven seasons.

Leading up to this point, the Bears hadn’t put much effort into building an effective pass rush. They drafted rookies Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter, two highly regarded prospects, to the defensive line. The front office signed veterans DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green in an attempt to fill the gaps on the edges.

But no one stood out.

Finally, the Bears notched their edge rusher — potentially, of the future — in Ngakoue. He’s a technically sound, athletic edge with years of experience from different corners of the NFL world.

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“Yannick’s gonna bring leadership, energy and his pass-rush here, which is going to help our defense and help our team get better,” Poles said. “Also, the ability to help our young guys learn that craft and the skillset to be able to get home and be consistent and dependable like he’s been throughout his career.”

Every NFL fan knows the importance of an effective pass rusher. In a way, you can’t rush the process of finding one for your team.

Much like finding a quarterback, it’s important to be patient in finding one that suits the team’s needs and play style. For a long time, Bears fans waited and wondered when the Bears would finally strike on nailing in an edge rusher.

But after much deliberation and time, the Bears panned the river, and found their hunk of gold.

“We evaluate everybody,” said Poles. “In terms of the patience, there are certain elements that we think are going to be based on our analysis from history, what makes sense for us to do that’s going to be a sound decision that may not be what the player wants initially. You got to talk back and forth to make sure that years and compensation make sense. That’s where the level of patience comes from.”

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On Saturday, Ryan Poles spoke about the signing for the first time, and he was frank when explaining why he made the move to bring in an extra pass rusher now. Poles said it was a mix of realizing the Bears defensive line could use a boost at the edges after seven training camp practices, and knowing that adding a player of Ngakoue’s caliber would elevate the defense overall, regardless of any perceived deficiencies.

Further, the Bears secondary has appeared to be a team strength in the early goings of the summer. By adding Ngakoue, the Bears can play up to that strength on the back end of the defense.

“You want to be able to shorten that time to get the ball out,” Poles said. “You want your secondary– which I see right now– being really good in coverage, which is going to buy the guys up front time to get home.That was an emphasis that (head coach Matt Eberflus) and I had, was to get more pressure on the quarterback and create turnovers.”

As for why the Bears didn’t make the move earlier, Poles said this was a deal that simply needed more time.

“There’s a level of patience that you’ve gotta have to be a sound decision-maker… There’s time we’re gonna hit the gas and sometimes you wanna hit the brake. This one we wanted to be patient and make sure both sides are comfortable with what was going on.”

Ngakoue immediately becomes the top pass rusher on the Bears defensive line and joins fellow 2023 free agent signees DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green. In addition, the Bears are looking for Trevis Gipson, Dominique Robinson and Terrell Lewis to take the next step in their development along the edges.

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“It’s up! It’s up!,” Jackson responded to Brisker.

“Just to have that pressure up front, man, it helps us a lot in the back end,” Jackson said Friday. “We get to capitalize off of that as well.”

The Bears’ first-team defense has been flying around since the minute camp started, led by a Jackson, Brisker, and a secondary that promises to be the strength of the 2023 Bears’ defense.

On Wednesday, the Bears’ defense dominated the offense from the jump. It was a hard-nosed ass-kicking that had Jackson, Brisker, and the defense jawing for long stretches of the two-hour-and-twenty-minute practice.

Jackson and the Bears believe this year’s defense has the ingredients to be elite. The only thing missing was an edge rusher capable of generating consistent pressure on a down-by-down basis. He walked through the door Friday.

“It’s just getting scarier and scarier,” Jackson said Friday. “You know, you’re just adding more talent and more talent. When that starts to mesh together, it’s, I mean, everyone in here has seen what’s going to happen. When you’ve got a lot of large group of talented players and people that’s actually locked in and really love football, that’s just more fuel to the fire. We feel like, ‘OK, we just keep taking it up a notch.’ Now we done added him. It’s like, ‘Oh man, it’s up,’ like this thing is headed in the right direction. 

“I hate to sound like a broken record every year saying the same thing, but man, listen like this is a different feeling right now. It’s like, it’s you feel the coaching shift. Like I said, man, it’s a great feeling. We’re high energy, we’re flying around. We’re ready for this thing to head in a different direction.”

Ngakoue recorded 9.5 sacks for the Indianapolis Colts last season. Bears edge rushers combined for 6.5. Brisker led the team with four.

The Bears’ secondary, as good as it might be, needs help from the front four. If the front four can’t create pressure, the Bears’ secondary will eventually crack.

They desperately need a guy who can put the opposing offense behind the chains and put a stake in their heart on third down.

Since 2016, Ngakoue has 65 sacks. That trails only a who’s who of elite defenders — Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Chandler Jones, Cameron Jordan, and Khalil Mack — during that timespan.

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Jackson feels a different, locked-in energy from the defense this season. Brisker and second-year cornerback Kyler Gordon have elevated their play, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds gives the Bears a kind of trump card in the middle, and now, here comes Ngakoue.

“It just more juice,” Jackson said. “We just keep adding talent. We’re just going out there competing. We got this motto: ‘All we need is all we got. All we got is all we need.’ Just keep adding talent. Just continue to raise the competition level.”

Jackson’s belief in the potential of the 2023 defense is soaring. The veteran safety has big expectations for his unit and wishes a certain nemesis was still in Green Bay to face a reloaded Bears defense.

“I really do wish he was back on the Packers,” Jackson said of Aaron Rodgers. “Ay, we going to take it how it comes, man. I really do wish cause — wooo! — this year, it’s going to be scary, man. It’s going to be scary.”

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A move like this wasn’t unexpected. The Bears were open about their interest in adding free agents throughout the summer, including at defensive end where it seemed they could use a boost. The Bears just needed to make sure they did all their homework first.

“We had some intel on him,” Eberflus said. “Obviously what kind of teammate he is. What kind of person he is. What kind of worker he is. And he checked all the boxes there for us. He’s gonna be a good addition.”

Eberflus considers Rod Marinelli to be one of his biggest influences as a head coach from their time working together with the Dallas Cowboys. Marinelli was Ngakoue’s coach for one season in Las Vegas, and Eberflus asked Marinelli about Ngakoue. Current Bears defensive line coach Travis Smith was an assistant defensive line coach for Ngakoue during his one season for the Raiders, too. Of course, Eberflus asked Smith for whatever input he had, as well.

Each guy gave feedback that made Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles comfortable enough to offer Ngakoue a reported one-year, $10.5 million deal.

“The way he practices, I guess he’s full tilt when he practices,” Eberflus said. “He keeps himself in great shape. He’s very mindful of his body and how he stays in great shape to be able to go hard like that.

“To be really good and effective in pass rushing, you’ve got to bring it and you’ve got to bring it every single down. You can’t take a play off and that takes being in great shape, and you’ve got to have that mentality.”

Eberflus doesn’t have any first-hand knowledge of what Ngakoue’s like as a player, so after Ngakoue finishes his ramp-up periodー the time when the Bears slowly increase a player’s reps if they haven’t played ball in awhileー he’s looking to confirm that Ngakoue will fit into his demanding H.I.T.S. program.

“We have standards here of how we operate, how we hustle, how we finish, how we play. That’s our style, right? And the style’s not just for the game, it’s for the practice too. So we want to see him buy into that and really take that on and have ownership of that.”

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Ngakoue, 28, is a top free-agent edge rusher in the NFL. Last season with the Indianapolis Colts, he finished the season with 9.5 sacks in 15 games. He added 29 tackles, 16 quarterback hits and one forced fumble to his stat sheet, too.

This is a key move for the Bears’ defense. Last season, the Bears ranked last in the NFL for sacks created, notching only 20. Safety Jaquan Brisker led the team with four sacks.

Surprisingly, the Bears opted not to draft an edge rusher in the 2023 NFL draft. They did, however, bolster the defensive line with Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter.

In free agency, they signed DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green to fill the gaps. But Ngakoue stands above them all.

Originally a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Ngakoue spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Arguably his best season came in 2017, his first and only Pro Bowl nod. He recorded 12.0 sacks and led the league with six forced fumbles.

In 2020, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, splitting his 2020 campaign between there and Baltimore, playing with the Ravens before spending 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, the Colts traded Rock Ya-Sin in exchange for Ngakoue.

He’s a durable edge, never missing more than two games in a single season for the entirety of his seven-year career.

Ngakoue will serve as a valuable piece on the Bears’ defensive front this season.

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Ngakoue, 28, was one of several veteran edge rushers who remained on the free-agent market at the start of summer, with Leonard Floyd, Frank Clark, Justin Houston, and Jadeveon Clowney among the other options.

Armed with the most cap space in the NFL, the Bears had their pick of the litter.

In the end, Poles chose Ngakoue as the man who best fit what he and head coach Matt Eberflus are looking for in a pass rusher.

“I think he fits really well,” Eberflus said Friday. “He was with [Rod] Marinelli in Vegas, which was cool, and [defensive line coach Travis Smith]. So he was in that same type of scheme there. He was with [Gus Bradley] last year — same type of scheme, four down in front. Getting vertical on the edges. So it’s really the same type. It’s not gonna be a stretch for him. He fits really well, so we’re excited about that.

“And we had some intel on him. Obviously, what kind of teammate he is. What kind of person he is. What kind of worker he is. And he checked all the boxes there for us. He’s gonna be a good addition.”

Ngakoue has registered at least eight sacks in each season of his seven-year NFL career. Last season, Bears’ defensive ends totaled 6.5 sacks. Safety Jaquan Brisker led the team with four sacks.

Since entering the NFL in 2016, Ngakoue has 65 sacks. That number trails only Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Chandler Jones, and Khalil Mack during that timeframe.

Ngakoue’s arrival immediately gives the Bears’ pass rush some much-needed teeth. While Ngakoue is not known for his run defense, the Bears didn’t give him $10 million to only play on third down.

“We see him as a first- and second-down, we see him as an every-down end, so he’s gonna have to play in those situations,” Eberflus said. “And he’s done it. He’s been good at it, and we’ve got to make sure that he sharpens that part of it as well. And he will do that. And we’re excited where he is in terms of being an every-down defensive end for us.”

Ngakoue and the Bears have been talking for some time. The veteran edge rusher initially wanted a multi-year deal, which was part of the reason for the lengthy negotiations.

The Bears view Ngakoue not only as a scheme fit but also as someone who will arrive and seamlessly blend into the H.I.T.S culture created by Eberflus and his staff.

“The way he practices, I guess he’s full tilt when he practices, and he keeps himself in great shape,” Eberflus said. “He’s very mindful of his body and how he stays in great shape to be able to go hard like that. To be really good and effective in pass rushing, you’ve got to bring it, and you’ve got to bring it every single down. You can’t take a play off, and that takes being in great shape, and you’ve got to have that mentality.”

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Adding an edge rusher of Ngakoue’s caliber will help make life easier for a back seven that is the strength of the Bears’ rebuilt defense.

Safety Eddie Jackson feels a different energy on defense this season, and adding Ngakoue should only add fuel to that fire.

“It just more juice,” Jackson said. “We just keep adding talent. We’re just going out there competing. We got this motto: ‘All we need is all we got. All we got is all we need.’ Just keep adding talent. Just continue to raise the competition level.”

Poles had to inject talent into his defensive front after a season in which the Bears’ defensive line failed to breathe on opposing quarterbacks for large stretches of the season. A pass-rush mercenary with a history of wreaking havoc on opposing offenses was just what the doctor ordered for the 2023 Bears.

“It’s getting scarier and scarier,” Jackson said.

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In response to Payton’s posting about their meeting on Twitter, Ngakoue posted a gracious response about his father.

The Bears signed Ngaouke late on Thursday evening, sources confirmed to NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock. Adam Schefter was first to report, as he mentioned Thursday the contract is a one-year deal worth $10.5 million ($10 million guaranteed).

Ngaouke, 28, recorded 9.5 sacks last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He’s one of the top free-agent edge rushers this offseason. Over his seven seasons in the NFL, he’s never missed more than two games or recorded fewer than eight sacks.

The Bears were in dire need of an effective pass rusher before the season started. Last season, they recorded the fewest number of sacks in the NFL (20) and rushed the passer on the lowest percent of snaps over the season.

The front office forewent the opportunity to draft an edge in the 2023 NFL draft, surprisingly. They did, however, draft defensive linemen Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter to the front line. And, during free agency, they signed DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green to help plug the gaps on the edge.

Ngaouke certainly made a strong impression on Bears fans, showing his love for the franchise’s greatest player.

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“A guy that was a great power rusher,” Ngakoue said. “A guy that had great speed off the edge.”

Ngakoue has just one degree of separation from Peppers via longtime NFL coach Rod Marinelli. Ngakoue played under Marinelli when Marinelli was the Raiders defensive line coach in 2021. Peppers played under Marinelli when Marinelli was the Bears assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2010-2012.

Peppers’ stop in Chicago was short but he made a big impact in his time here. He made the Pro Bowl in three of his four seasons with the team, and was an All-Pro twice. Peppers notched 37.5 of his 159.5 career sacks with the Bears, and added 10 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He’s a surefire Hall of Famer, and apparently Marinelli sees a lot of Peppers in Ngakoue.

“He used to tell me we have a lot of the same attributes and I just have to tap into that skillset and just show the world.”

Ngakoue has a ways to go to match Peppers’ output, but there’s no denying he’s highly talented and remarkably consistent. If he can tap into that Peppers skillset even more, he’ll go a long way towards improving the entire Bears defense, single handedly.

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The Ngakoue signing is an important move by a Bears team that had money to spend and a severe need to add juice and teeth to their pass rush.

Last season, Bears defensive ends notched just 6.5 sacks in 17 games. Safety Jaquan Brisker led the team with four.

Ngakoue, meanwhile, recorded 9.5 sacks for the Indianapolis Colts and has registered at least eight sacks in every season of his seven-year career. He’s one of five players in NFL history to achieve that feat. Since entering the NFL in 2016, Ngakoue has 65 sacks. That number trails only Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Chandler Jones, and Khalil Mack during that timeframe.

The Bears signed defensive end DeMarcus Walker this offseason, but that was never going to be enough. They desperately need someone they can rely on to put his hand in the dirt and get after the quarterback on a consistent basis — someone who can put the opposing offense behind the sticks or put a stake in their heart on third down.

That Walker left Tuesday’s practice early with an injury and didn’t participate Wednesday only added to the Bears’ need for another veteran edge rusher.

Ngakoue is a poor run defender. That, along with his initial desire for a multi-year deal, is probably why he remained a free agent until Aug. 3.

There’s no doubt the Bears will have done their homework on Ngakoue. While he didn’t play for head coach Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis, the Bears’ regime still has deep connections with some remaining in Indy. Ngakoue also played for Bears defensive line coach Travis Smith while with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.

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Poles is playing the long game with this rebuild. Taking the Bears from the NFL cellar to perennial contention will take a multi-year, multi-pronged approach. He has been disciplined in his spending.

But this is a deal that had to get done. The Bears couldn’t walk into the 2023 season with Trevis Gipson, Dominique Robinson, Rasheem Green, and Terrell Lewis as their pass-rush options not named Walker.

Ngakoue isn’t a superstar. His arrival shouldn’t be overblown. But this signing was one the Bears desperately had to make. Poles was patient, waited Ngakoue out, and secured him at the number he wanted.

With Ngakoue on the edge, the Bears’ defensive front looks different. It’s not going to win any beauty contests, but it should have more of an edge and give the Bears’ defense a fighting chance on passing downs — something it didn’t have last season.

Not every move guarantees a Super Bowl. Ngakoue arriving doesn’t accelerate the lengthy rebuild. But it’s a move that will help the Bears be better on the field in 2023, and that could pay dividends in the long run as well.

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The contract is a one-year deal worth $10.5 million, $10 million of which is guaranteed, according to Schefter.

Ngakoue, 28, is a top free-agent edge rusher in the NFL. Last season with the Indianapolis Colts, he finished the season with 9.5 sacks in 15 games. He added 29 tackles, 16 quarterback hits and one forced fumble to his stat sheet, too.

This is a key move for the Bears’ defense. Last season, the Bears ranked last in the NFL for sacks created. They reached 20 sacks by the season’s end. Safety Jaquan Brisker led the team with four sacks.

Surprisingly, the Bears opted not to draft an edge rusher in the 2023 NFL draft. They did, however, bolster the defensive line with Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter.

In free agency, they signed DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green to fill the gaps. But Ngakoue stands above them all.

Originally a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Ngakoue spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Arguably his best season came in 2017, his first and only Pro Bowl nod. He recorded 12.0 sacks and led the league with six forced fumbles.

In 2020, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, splitting his 2020 campaign between there and Baltimore, playing with the Ravens before spending 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, the Colts traded Rock Ya-Sin in exchange for Ngakoue.

He’s a durable edge, never missing more than two games in a single season for the entirety of his seven-year career.

Ngakoue will serve as a valuable piece on the Bears’ defensive front this season.

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“Any team in the NFL is an ideal landing spot for me,” Ngakoue told Rome. “It’s a blessing to be able to work any job in the NFL. You know what I mean? To be able to go and practice with a team, to be able to go do a walkthrough, to be able to go do film study, it’s a blessing. It doesn’t matter what organization.”

If Ngakoue wants anything, it could be stability. He’s an incredibly talented and consistent pass rusher, with 65 career sacks. But he’s played for five different teams over the past four seasons.

“Everybody wants a home,” Ngakoue said. “Everybody wants to be able to just play football and not really worry about the business side of things.”

It’s no secret that the Bears could use some reinforcements on the defensive line. Last year the Bears notched an NFL-low 20 sacks. Of those 20 sacks, only 10.5 came from defensive linemen. Ryan Poles added some young defensive tackles through the draft, but the new faces at defensive end are veteran rotational players like DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green. None of them have the track record of success that Ngakoue does.

It’s also no secret that Poles and Matt Eberflus are open to adding more players at this stage of the offseason program, similar to how the team signed Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield at the outset of training camp last season.

Here’s what Poles said back in April when asked if he felt good about the Bears roster heading into training camp:

“Camp’s a long ways away. We’ll stay on our toes and if something presents itself we’ll be able to do that. We’ll be able to do it financially as well.”

Camp is no longer a ways away. Players report to Halas Hall this Tuesday and things pick up quickly from there. The Bears have yet to make any significant changes to the roster, but if they’re ready to look up Ngakoue, he’ll be ready.

“I have my sights set on nothing but whoever calls me and is ready to bring me in.”

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