Bears Lose Defensive Star Dayo Odeyingbo to Season-Ending Injury

Chicago, IL – The Chicago Bears will be without defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo for the rest of the season following a torn Achilles tendon suffered during Sunday’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced on Monday.

The injury occurred in Week 9 of the NFL season, leading to the decision to place Odeyingbo on injured reserve. The 26-year-old was signed to a lucrative three-year, $48 million contract in March after spending his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

In eight games played this season, Odeyingbo recorded one sack, 21 tackles, one pass deflection, and four quarterback hits. According to Pro Football Focus, he achieved a defensive grade of 54.0, ranking him 101st out of 119 qualified edge rushers.

Odeyingbo’s absence presents an opportunity for teammates Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson, and Daniel Hardy to step up on defense. While the Bears have confirmed that they will explore adding another edge rusher before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the team’s focus remains on filling the void left by Odeyingbo.

This marks Odeyingbo’s second torn Achilles injury, raising concerns about the long-term impact on his performance. His initial Achilles injury affected his pre-draft process after being selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Despite not meeting expectations in his first year with Chicago, Odeyingbo’s injury is seen as a significant loss for the team. The Bears continue to assess their roster and injuries as they prepare for the next phase of the season.