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Bears Try to Bolster Linebacker Depth

Former Falcons linebacker Mykal Walker has been claimed by the Bears off waivers after being waived on Sunday.
Gene Chamberlain|
Bears Try to Bolster Linebacker Depth
Bears Try to Bolster Linebacker Depth

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Chicago Bears

The Bears waived undrafted free agent linebacker Kyony Deng after practice Monday and signed linebacker Mykal Walker.

The move provides more experience for the linebacker group, as Walker was a fourth-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 from Azusa Pacific and Fresno State and started 20 games in three seasons.

The Bears are in need of linebacker help at the moment because starter Tremaine Edmunds remains out with an unspecified injury, backup Dylan Cole continues to miss practices with an unreported injury and on Monday backup DeMarquis Gates also missed practice.

In a surprise move, the Falcons had waived Walker on Sunday and signed USFL defensive player of the year Frank Ginda, a linebacker.

Walker is 6-foot-3, 230 and made 187 tackles in three seasons. He played in 49 total games with Atlanta and had a sack, 11 passes broken up, three interceptions and a forced fumble. In 2021 he returned an interception for a touchdown.

Deng was a player out of California, Independence and VMI who hadn't been drafted. He got into Saturday's first preseason game for just five defensive snaps and 10 special teams plays.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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