Bears Defense Needs One Piece

Analysis: Signing Yannick Ngakoue or any other edge rusher makes the most sense for the Bears at this point, with a break in practice and injuries on defense stacking up.

NFL Network's top reporter Ian Rapoport visited the Bears camp Wednesday.

Maybe because he said it and or because Bears fans have been waiting for weeks to get a pass rusher signed, a comment he made is being interpreted as a "report" that the Bears could be the ultimate landing spot for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Rapoport never mentioned landing spot or reported anything about the Bears and Ngakoue.

All he said in his comment about the former Colts edge player and the Bears was "certainly this would make sense." He doesn't even say the two sides have been talking, just that this marriage would make sense.

It does make sense. But it doesn't mean the Bears are about to sign Ngakoue, who has never had less than eight sacks in a season.

They should, though, and they should do it now.

The reason the timing is right for Ngakoue is the number of injuries they have incurred in training camp within the last few days. They could use an infusion of edge rush talent right about now.

DeMarcus Walker is their big edge rush acquisition and he missed Wednesday's practice without explanation from Bears coach Matt Eberflus. They also were without defensive tackle Justin Jones, who might be their best interior rusher at the moment.

The defensive lineman they claimed off waivers Tuesday, Bravvion Roy, is not a pass rusher. He's a run plug.

The Bears defense looks better and better against the pass, and it should with a head coach who was a linebacker and a defensive coordinator who has coached defensive backs. 

They focused three second-round picks on cornerbacks since 2020, have two big-play safeties. At least Jaquan Brisker has looked like he's capable of making that step now.

And they have an eclipse in the middle of field making throws in that intermediate range into a prayer for opposing QBs. That would be Tremaine Edmunds, whose height and reach have been intimidating the Bears attack on a daily basis.

"Yeah, I mean goodness gracious," Bears QB Justin Fields said. "We had one play today where if it was any other linebacker in the country, I mean he would have been open. Just his (Edmunds') presence. He's so huge.

From Inside Training Camp: The #Bears spent in free agency, stocking their defense with new talent. And today on the field, it was evident. pic.twitter.com/0DmkBfrTca

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 2, 2023

"He definitely covers ground well too. But yeah I mean it's been great for us as an offense to have him out there, to challenge us every day and you know he's been of course a great defensive leader so far. So, Tremaine has been great."

They did get one gain against Edmunds Wednesday in scrimmage, but it was from an official throwing the flag for defensive pass interference when  their middle linebacker followed tight end Cole Kmet 30 yards downfield. By the way, it was a terrible call by one of the officials working the practice, proving officials need training camps too.

"I'm going to say I have to go back and watch the film to see if it was PI or not," Edmunds said, laughing.

It wasn't.

"But I mean, you know coming into the league obviously it's something–well we preached it a lot in college," Edmunds said. "I was blessed to be coached by one of the best in Bud Foster. Just coming into the league, that's something that we focused with over in Buffalo. Each year, I try to take a step forward.

"Obviously, each offense gives you different looks. But just to be comfortable in the system, be able to know where the ball is, the soft spot in whatever coverages you're playing, knowing exactly where your help is and the communication aspect, I think it has a lot of different layers to it."

And the Bears seem to have many layers of defense covered.

They have pass coverage down, the run defense has been probably the area they upgraded the most with six different players in starting positions on the defensive front.

They need the edge rusher to make this more complete.

There is no practice on Thursday, either. That void is a good time to add someone who can cause problems off the edge in passing situations.

Ngakoue would be fine but will cost the most. Justin Houston would be a good stop-gap for a year. Jadeveon Clowney is young enough to bounce back from the poor 2022 season he had as a pass rusher.

Another Bears season with 6 1/2 total sacks from edge rushers would be a wasted season.

Anyone would help, including Ngakoue and now. 

It would make sense. 

BearDigest@BearsOnMaven