The Chicago Bears have cut outside linebacker Willie Young, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.
Young, who spent the last four seasons with the Bears, had signed a three-year deal with the team prior to the 2016 season, but the team was able to opt out of the third year of the deal without a salary cap penalty.
In four seasons with the Bears, Young appeared in 50 games, racking up 26 sacks and 78 tackles in those contests. He only appeared in two games with the Bears in 2017 as a triceps injury kept him off the field for the vast majority of the campaign.
Although the team made the move official on Wednesday afternoon, G.M. Ryan Pace revealed the decision during his press availability at the NFL Combine on Wednesday.
“We’ve spoken with him and we’ve spoken with his agents,” Pace said.
The Bears will also release quarterback Mike Glennon when the new league year begins. The team has already released several high profile players, including linebacker Pernell McPhee, offensive lineman Josh Sitton, and safety Quintin Demps.
With Young and McPhee out of the fold, and with Lamarr Houston heading to free agency, the Bears are looking for a pass rusher to pair up with Leonard Floyd on the outside.
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“Pass rush is always a priority for us,” Pace said. “You can never have enough pass rush, so that’s a position of need for us.”
