(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
It’s been a tough year for the Chicago Bears.
Just when they became an elite defensive team, they now have to be without one of their best players on that side of the field.
According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, star DE Yannick Ngakoue is going to miss the remainder of the season.
Bears’ DE Yannick Ngakoue broke his ankle Sunday vs. the Lions and is out for the season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2023
Apparently, the defensive end broke his ankle in last Sunday’s divisional win over the Detroit Lions, per HC Matt Eberflus.
Ngakoue will now be headed to the Injured Reserve (IR) list later this week and will have to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
The star DE had signed a one-year contract with the Bears early in August.
He had become a staple in Eberflus’ system, starting all 13 games and logging 22 tackles and four sacks.
Now, he’s looking at a long rehab after surgery, so his status for the first game of the next campaign is uncertain.
The Bears will have to go through several major changes in the offseason.
They’re likely to have the first couple of picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, and they’ll have more than enough cash to spare.
Montez Sweat has been spectacular and has become the team’s defensive anchor, so bringing back guys like Ngakoue could become a priority, even if Eberflus is no longer with the team.
As for the other side of the field, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Justin Fields were to be traded to another team, as the Bears might take Drake Maye or Caleb Williams in the draft.
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