The Larry Ogunjobi failed physical report (and his subsequent departure) threw the Bears world through a loop.
And while Ogunjobi isn’t sticking around, Chicago’s football team reportedly isn’t wasting time in finding his replacement. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the team is reportedly signing Justin Jones to join the defensive line mix:
DL Justin Jones is signing with the on a two-year deal, per sou﷽rce.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN)
UPDATE (2:42 p.m. CT) — Some money matters:
Two years, 𒊎$12 million on this deal fo💝r Justin Jones and the .
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo)
It is a two-year deal for Jones, a 25-year-old defensive lineman who has spent the first f꧅our years of his career with the Chargers. A third-round pick in 2018, the North Carolina State product has 51 games (35 starts) worth of experience. He has been a primary starter in each of the last three years, with the 2021 season being the most productive of the bunch. Jones had 3 sacks, 5 tackles-for-loss, and 5 quarterback hits while playing 11 games. Not bad, considering his playing time was limited because he spent time on IR with a calf injury in October༺.
We’ll see what is next for the Bears. Obviously, the Ogunjobi departure tweaks things a bit. And I’m not sure if Jones is a traditional three-technique defensive tackle like Ogunjobi was projecting to be. Nevertheless, the Bears have a new slab of big-bodied man in the middle of their defense. The 6-3, 309-pound Jones is reportedly Chicago bound. I suppose he’ll have to pass a physical first. So, don’t go buying jerseys just yet.
