Bears Reportedly Add Depth at Linebacker

According to a report, the Bears have signed Steelers draft pick Buddy Johnson to add linebacker depth.

USA Today

The Bears have reportedly added a linebacker for depth to the mix as player report Tuesday for Wednesday's first practice.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Buddy Johnson is signing with the Bears, according to a report by NFL reporter Aaron Wilson.  Johnson was one of several players the Bears had in for workouts on Monday. 

A 6-foot-2, 240-pounder from Texas A&M, Johnson was a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2021 and got into four games while making two tackles.

Both the Steelers and the 49ers had Johnson on their practice squads last year after the Steelers waived him at the end of August. 

Johnson was viewed as an outstanding athlete with good size who lacked polish, coming out of Texas A&M. He ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash with a 38 1/2-inch vertical leap at a pro day. 

After starters Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn, the Bears have fourth-round rookie Noah Sewell, veteran free agent acquisition Dylan Cole, DeMarquis Gates, Sterling Weatherford, undrafted rookie Kuony Deng and undrafted rookie Micah Baskerville as competition for Johnson.

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