The Chicago Bears are ten days away from reporting to training camp on July 28 and the defensive line is eager to get back on the field. Last year, a couple of injuries plagued the defensive line, especially with Akiem Hicks, but if the Bears can stay healthy in 2020, they have one of the best units in the NFL.
The Bears saw two players leave in free agency that played a productive role. Aaron Lynch returns to his home state to play with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a one-year, $1.1 million deal after playing in 16 games and totaling two sacks. Nick Williams signs with divisional rival Detroit Lions for two years, $10 million after a breakout year with six sacks, nine quarterback hits, five tackle for loss, and 42 total tackles.
Let’s take a look at the defensive line heading into training camp.
Akiem Hicks
Playing in five games last season due to injury, Hicks is hungry to get back on the field. Ever since Hicks joined the Bears in 2016, he has played at an elite level where he has recorded more than seven sacks in each season besides 2019, five force fumbles, four fumble recoveries, seven pass deflections and 173 combined tackles.
The 2018 Pro Bowler is accompanied by Khalil Mack and newly signed Robert Quinn, which can help Hicks get his normal production and more. The 30-year old will be a key piece on the defense in 2020 after missing 11 games last season.
Eddie Goldman
The former 2015 second-round pick out of Florida State has been a consistent player for the Bears over the last few years. The 26-year old is entering the prime of his career and it’s expected to see more out of Goldman for the 2020 season.
The Bears’ nose tackle is coming off a one sack season that included 29 tackles. Goldman averages 2.5 sacks per season but has made his presence made with his average of four quarterback hits per season. Goldman has also been a solid run defender as well, but overall the Bears would like to see more out of their nose tackle for 2020.
Bilal Nichols
After a big rookie year for the 2018 fifth-round pick, Nichols came down to earth in Year 2, mainly due to injuries that would keep him out for three games. After totaling zero sacks, 27 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits, the 23-year old is looking for productive 2020 season, especially where he can benefit from the presence of Hicks, Mack, and Quinn. Nichols could be in line for a breakout season in his third year.
Roy Robertson-Harris
Joining the Bears as an undrafted free agent back in 2016, Robertson-Harris has worked his way into a solid player in the defense. Robertson-Harris has been a rotational player for the Bears, but last year he made some starts due to injuries along the defensive line. After making seven starts, collecting 2.5 sacks, 30 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and three pass deflections, the 26-year old inked a one-year contract to remain with the Bears.
John Jenkins
Jenkins has been a journeyman in the past few years in the NFL playing with the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins. Jenkins returns to the Bears on a one-year, $1 million deal. Jenkins is coming off a season with the Dolphins after playing in all 16 games, starting five, recorded a sack, and 34 tackles.
When Jenkins was with the Bears in 2017, he played in eight games, starting one and recorded eight tackles. Jenkins will compete for the backup job to Eddie Goldman.
Brent Urban
Born in Ontario, Canada, Urban signed with the Bears in the middle of the 2019 season after he was released by the Tennessee Titans. Urban resigned with the Bears on a one-year deal that was worth less than a million dollars after coming off a season where he played nine games with the Bears and had 16 tackles and two pass deflections.
Before joining the Titans and Bears last season, Urban played five years with the Baltimore Ravens and totaled 3.5 sacks and 52 tackles. Urban will fight to remain on the Bears roster for 2020.
Abdullah Anderson
After being a 2018 undrafted free agent, Anderson made the 2019 roster and played in six games, where his biggest game came against the New Orleans Saints where he recorded his first sack, had a tackle for loss, and two total tackles. Anderson has been waived a couple of times throughout his career, but he looks to remain on the Bears roster.
Lee Autry
Brother of Indianapolis Colts Denico Autry, Lee joins the Bears as an undrafted free agent from Mississippi State. Ranked the second-best junior college defensive tackle in the nation, according to ESPN, played in 18 games for the Bulldogs and finished with 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. The 23-year old hopes to be another Bears undrafted free agent to make the roster.
LaCale London
The Peoria, Illinois, native is another undrafted free agent for the Bears out of Western Illinois University. London transferred to Western Illinois in 2018 after attending Iowa Central Community College and was named onto the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team. In London’s two years with the Leathernecks’ he totaled 71 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Trevon McSwain
The last undrafted free agent the Bears are bringing in is out of Duke University. McSwain appeared in 49 career games had recorded 102 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, five force fumbles, two pass breakups, and 12 quarterback pressures. The former Blue Devil was a popular undrafted rookie as the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles were all interested in signing McSwain before the Bears won him over.
