Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Alyssa Barbieri

Bears DE Yannick Ngakoue out for season with broken ankle

Chicago Bears defensive end Yannick Ngakoue suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Sunday’s win against the Detroit Lions, head coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday.

Ngakoue suffered a broken ankle late in Sunday’s game against the Lions, and he played through it. Eberflus said it happened on one of the final plays, although he’s not sure specifically which play it happened on. Ngakoue will need surgery and will land on season-ending injured reserve.

As for how the Bears will compensate for Ngakoue’s loss in terms of getting more pressure, Eberflus joked: “Blitz every snap.”

The Bears signed Ngakoue to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million this offseason, where he served as the team’s top edge rusher until the team acquired Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders in Week 9.

Ngakoue finishes this season with 4.0 sacks, making this the first time in his seven-year career where he hasn’t totaled at least eight sacks.

 

The Bears’ pass rush has made substantial progress in sacks, where they have 10 in the last four games (compared to 11 in the first nine games). Ngakoue’s loss isn’t ideal, so Eberflus will have to get creative when it comes to creating consistent pressure up front.

With Ngakoue sidelined, there will be opportunities for defensive ends DeMarcus Walker, Rasheem Green and Dominique Robinson (who’s been a healthy scratch for the last six games), along with defensive linemen like Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens to create pressure.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.