Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, one of the Bears’ top free-agency acquisitions in the offseason, has only sack this season. Michael Owens / Getty Images
A struggling Chicago Bears defense was dealt another blow Monday with news that defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles and is going to miss the rest of the season. Coach Ben Johnson confirmed the diagnosis on Monday afternoon.
A big-ticket free-agent addition for the Bears in the spring, Odeyingbo signed a three-year, $48 million contract in March. Only 26, he was considered an ascending player by the front office and coaching staff, with the size and smarts to play opposite Montez Sweat in Dennis Allen’s defense.
The sack production hasn’t been there — Odeyingbo has only one sack and four QB hits this season — but head coach Ben Johnson said he had been impressed with the interior rush Odeyingbo was providing on passing downs. That has helped the Bears form one of the league’s best third-down defenses. Johnson thought Odeyingbo had his best game against the run in last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Last week, the Bears placed rookie defensive lineman Shemar Turner on injured reserve with a torn ACL. He had just started to show promise as a reserve defensive end. Dominique Robinson, who had been the No. 3 edge rusher, missed Sunday’s game in Cincinnati with an ankle injury, though he wasn’t placed on injured reserve, which provides hope he can return soon. Second-year defensive end Austin Booker had his season debut Sunday and had a strip-sack on his 37 snaps.
It would be a big jump for either Booker or Robinson to take on the starting role opposite Sweat. The Bears could also get creative with tackle Gervon Dexter and give him some snaps at defensive end. But this also puts them squarely in the trade market for a possible starter to help the pass rush.
Nov 3, 2025
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