Tag: Mario Edwards

Jaguars reportedly add DE Mario Edwards on one-year deal

The Jaguars added some much-needed depth to their defensive line Sunday morning.

Update: Mario Edwards is joining the Jaguars’ practice squad, the team announced Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars added some much-needed depth to their defensive line Sunday morning by agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran end Mario Edwards, according to reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and ProFootballNetwork’s Aaron Wilson.

Edwards, 28, was the Oakland Raiders’ second-round pick in 2015, but most recently spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears. In seven NFL seasons, Edwards has 16.5 career sacks and 35 quarterback hits.

The Jacksonville defensive line is still thin with Roy Robertson-Harris, Folorunso Fatukasi, Dawuane Smoot, and Arden Key at defensive end. Even more concerning is DaVon Hamilton’s role as the only nose tackle on the roster.

Edwards will offer a bit of help, but the Jaguars likely aren’t done adding big bodies on defense.

Bears 2022 training camp preview: Interior defensive line

We’re taking a look at the Bears defensive line ahead of training camp and examining the biggest question facing the position group.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, so it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

This time we’re looking at the interior defensive line. Historically a strength of the Bears, this year’s position group gives cause for concern. Many current players on the roster either haven’t played in a 4-3 since college or are not 4-3 defensive linemen.

The most significant signing this offseason was Justin Jones at three-technique after the failed physical of Larry Ogunjobi. Jones fits the mold of the linemen previously mentioned. He’s a 3-4 defensive tackle being asked to play in a 4-3.

Most of the defensive linemen on the roster will have low sack totals and low-pressure rates. It’s a combination of playing interior defensive line and playing in a system where linemen are asked to take on blocks, not penetrate and make disruptive plays.

Let’s look at the interior defensive line heading into training camp.

Updated look at Bears interior defensive line depth after Mike Pennel signing

Following the Mike Pennel signing, here’s a look at where the Bears’ interior defensive line depth stands.

The Chicago Bears added more depth along the interior of the defensive line with the signing of nose tackle Mike Pennel on Monday night.

Pennel is back for his second stint in Chicago after being on the roster last training camp. He landed on injured reserve and was released in late August. Now, he’s reunited with general manager Ryan Poles, who knew Pennel from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Head coach Matt Eberflus explained there will be a rotation along the defensive line this season. Pennel is a welcome addition to the roster, where he’ll be battling Khyiris Tonga for the starting nose tackle job.

Following the signing of Pennel, here’s a look at the Bears’ interior defensive line depth:

How the Bears pass rush looks following Khalil Mack trade

What does the Bears pass rush look like following the Khalil Mack trade? Trevis Gipson serves to benefit the most.

The Chicago Bears added to an already crazy week in the NFL when it was reported they would be sending star pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick.

Los Angeles is also picking up Mack’s remaining contract, with the Bears responsible for $24 million in dead money this season. The move was general manager Ryan Poles’ first in what is sure to be a busy offseason for the new-look Bears.

Trading Mack, who was acquired in 2018 by former general manager Ryan Pace for multiple first-round draft picks, marks the end of an era for the Bears defense. Mack had 36 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in his four years as a Bear, earning Pro Bowl honors in three of them. He missed the final 10 games this past season after landing on injured reserve.

With Mack now heading back to the West Coast, the Bears depth chart at defensive is getting shaken up a bit. While Robert Quinn will continue to be a starter after his record-setting performance in 2021 when he had 18.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl, third-year pass rusher Trevis Gipson stands to benefit the most from Mack’s departure.

Gipson broke out in 2021 with 7.0 sacks, five of which came after Mack was lost for the season. He showed a ferociousness for getting after the quarterback and stripping the ball in his absence, which helped make this trade more palatable.

Behind Quinn and Gipson at the moment is veteran Jeremiah Attaochu. Signed last year as a free agent, Attaochu didn’t make much of an impact before being lost for the season. He could be a cut candidate as he enters the final year of his deal, but stands to see more playing time if he hangs around. The other reserves include younger players such as Sam Kamara and Charles Snowden, all of whom spent some time on defense last season.

The Bears also have veteran Mario Edwards Jr., who signed a three-year contract extension last offseason. He’s also an intriguing player who might find himself with more playing time than he did last season, assuming he remains with the team. Edwards had 2.0 sacks in 12 games, but struggled with untimely penalties as well.

There’s still work to be done and the roster is sure to look much different come August, but a few players already on the team will have the chance to earn more playing time on the defensive line. We’ll see what else the Bears have up their sleeves as the offseason rolls on.

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Bears place DE Mario Edwards on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Bears placed DE Mario Edwards on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday.

Less than a day after Sunday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears have placed defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Edwards joins offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Bears had a COVID outbreak earlier in the season, where a number of players landed on the list whether it was testing positive or as a close contact.  The hope is this is an isolated incident, much like Wilkinson’s.

In 2021, Edwards has seven tackles, including one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup in nine games.

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Stock up, stock down from Bears’ Week 5 win

We’re taking a look at which Bears players saw their stock rise and which players saw their stock dip in their Week 5 win.

The Chicago Bears pulled off an upset with a 20-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday, where Chicago played complimentary football to get their first road win of the year.

The Bears improved to 3-2 on the season, and they have a chance to take over first place in the NFC North if they can pull an upset against the Green Bay Packers.

Now that the dust has settled, we’re taking a look at which players saw their stock rise and which players saw their stock dip during the win.

Studs and duds from Bears’ gritty road win over the Raiders

The Bears had a hard-fought 20-9 win over the Raiders. Here are players who thrived and those few who disappointed in the win.

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The Chicago Bears earned their first road victory of the season on Sunday, taking down the Las Vegas Raiders 20-9 in Sin City. It was a hard-fought win from the start as Bears players like Justin Fields took a ton of hits from a tough Raiders defense.

After going down 3-0, it seemed like it would be a long day for the Bears. But they rallied back to score 14 unanswered points in the second quarter, then pulling away thanks to a couple of clutch field goals.

There were quite a few players responsible for the victory, as well some others who thankfully didn’t cost the Bears the game. Here are this week’s studs and duds.

Bear Necessities: Bears DE Mario Edwards excited to make his return following suspension

Bears DE Mario Edwards Jr. returns to the rotation this week following a two-game suspension to open the season.

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The Bears defensive line gets back an important rotational piece in defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., who served a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and will return to the lineup this week.

“It’s always tough whenever you’re away from the game, and it makes you want it even more,” Edwards said. “It was definitely tough watching knowing I wanted to be out there contributing for my team. But I’m definitely excited to get back out there this week.”

Following a career season in 2020, the Bears signed Edwards to a three-year, $11 million extension to keep him in the rotation through 2023.

And it looks like the Bears might get back a key starter on that defensive line, as well, as nose tackle Eddie Goldman has been limited in practice for Wednesday and Thursday.

“We’ve got a bunch of crazy dogs in that room, man,” Edwards said. “We love to play football and we love competing against one another. We give each other a challenge.”

Bears RB Tarik Cohen will start season on PUP list, miss first 6 games

Bears RB Tarik Cohen will start the 2021 season on the reserve/PUP list, which means he will miss at least the first 6 games of the season.

We finally have some clarity about running back Tarik Cohen’s rehab, but it’s not exactly good news. Cohen will start the 2021 season on the reserve/PUP list, which means he will miss at least the first six games of the season.

Cohen suffered a torn ACL about 11 months ago against the Falcons in Week 3, and he was expected to be ready for training camp. Cohen spent the entirety of camp on the PUP list with no timetable for his return.

Luckily, the Bears have some nice depth at running back with David Montgomery, Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert.

Elsewhere, rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins will not be placed on season-ending injured reserve. So Jenkins is part of the 53-man roster, where he’ll go on the in-season IR immediately, allowing him to return at some point this season and giving the Bears an extra roster spot.

Defensive tackle Mario Edwards has also been moved to the reserve/suspended list, where he will serve a two-game suspension to start the season.

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Twitter reacts to Bears’ re-signing Mario Edwards to 3-year extension

The Bears signed DE Mario Edwards to a three-year contract extension, and Twitter had plenty to say, most of which was good.

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The Chicago Bears continue to re-sign some of their in-house free agents ahead of the start of the new league year. Chicago re-signed defensive end Mario Edwards to a three-year contract extension worth $11.5 million, which keeps a valuable rotational player on the defensive line through 2023.

Edwards joined the Bears last summer after he was released by the New Orleans Saints. In 15 games, Edwards totaled 17 tackles, four sacks, and one pass deflection.

Twitter had plenty to say following Edwards’ contract extension, most of which was positive as Chicago locked up one of their key rotational players on the defensive line. Although there were still some people waiting for a Russell Wilson trade.

https://twitter.com/katelynnelener/status/1371141686731100170?s=20

https://twitter.com/MatthewS_Aung/status/1371135314362777603?s=20

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