The Bears are signing defensive lineman Mario Edwards, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times on Sunday morning.
Edwards is a former second-round draft pick of the Raiders in 2015 who’s played for the Giants and Saints the last two years. With New Orleans last year, the 6-3, 280-pounder recorded three sacks. He hasn’t started a game since 2017, when he did so 14 times for the Raiders.
He was a rotation piece last year, playing 28 percent of the Saints’ snaps. He’s only played more than half a team’s snaps once, and that was his rookie year.
Edwards will provide depth and versatility on a Bears defensive line that lost Eddie Goldman when he opted out before training camp began. Akiem Hicks returned to a light practice Thursday after missing 13 days with a quad injury.
The Bears kept only five defensive linemen Saturday — Hicks, Roy Robertson-Harris, Bilal Nichols, John Jenkins and Brent Urban — which left open the possibility they’d hunt for one more piece.
Edwards was not subject to waivers on Sunday because of his tenure in the league.
