The Bears added special teams depth Wednesday, signing inside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis to a one-year deal.
The 6-foot, 230-pounder will join his fourth team in as many years. He signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract with the Jets last offseason, but the team declined his second-year option in favor of keeping $2 million in cap space.
Bears coach Matt Nagy is familiar with the 27-year-old Boston College alum, having coached him in 2017 with the Chiefs. It was Pierre-Louis’ best season — he had a career-high 35 tackles, including six in the Chiefs’ playoff loss to the Titans.
The 27-year-old played 182 special teams snaps for the Jets last season, and could carve out a similar role if he makes the Bears. He had seven tackles and one sack in nine games before the Jets put him on injured reserve with a shoulder problem on the eve of the season finale.
The NFL suspended him for the first game of the 2018 season after he was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession as a member of the Chiefs. He reached a plea deal in March 2018.
Pierre-Louis played in 34 games over three years for the Seahawks, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2014. He started his first and only career game in 2015.
What’s left of the NFL’s free-agent market figured to pick up this week. Starting Wednesday, players signed as free agents don’t count toward the NFL’s compensation draft pick formula.
