Changes Beginning for Defensive Line

Bears give up on free agent signing and move on from former Colts defensive end, according to ESPN report

The Bears brought Al-Quadin Muhammad over in 2022 free agency from the Indianapolis Colts after he had gained experience in coach Matt Eberflus' defense over three Indianapolis seasons.

The experience seemed to help little and now Muhammad will move on.

According to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Muhammad is being released by the Bears in the first of moves aimed toward 2023 free agency and one that will free up a bit more salary cap space for a team swimming in it.

Muhammad made one sack, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and 29 total tackles while starting nine games and playing in 16 for the Bears.

Muhammad had started since opening day but was benched starting with Week 10 when he was out with a knee injury. He returned to play the rest of the season but was coming off the bench. His playing time was reduced as Dominique Robinson took over the right defensive end spot where Muhammad had been starting.

The Bears had signed Muhammad for two years and $8 million. They'll be hit with $500,000 of dead cap space for 2023 but will save $3,964,706 million in cap space according to Overthecap.com.

There is no need for them to designate it a post-June 1 cut as the savings will be the same.

This leaves the Bears with only Robinson and Trevis Gipson under contract with any measurable 2022 experience at end, although they did move tackle Justin Jones out to end at times over the final few weeks of the regular season.

As a group, the Bears defensive ends were largely unproductive. Robinson had 1 1/2 sacks while Gipson had three a season after he made seven.

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