Bears defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles tendon Sunday against the Bengals and will miss the rest of the season.
“That happens … we’ll have guys step up,” coach Ben Johnson said.
Odeyingbo’s injury creates an even greater need for pass-rush help leading up to Tuesday afternoon’s trade deadline. The Bears have already lost defensive end Shemar Turner, a second-round rookie.
The Bears’ defensive end group includes Montez Sweat, Daniel Hardy, Austin Booker and Dominique Robinson. Robinson missed Sunday’s game due to injury.
The Bears gave Odeyingbo a three-year, $48 million contract to lure him away from the Colts in March. He had one sack, in Week 1. The Bears liked his ability to rush the passer from the inside as well as the edge.
In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game the team reported that he suffered an ankle injury. He was spotted with crutches and a brace leaving the locker room after the 47-42 win against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Odeyingbo has started every game this year and has logged three-quarters of the Bears’ defensive snaps. Last week, they lost rookie defensive lineman Shemar Turner, a second-round pick, to a torn ACL.
The Bears, who are 5-3, host the Giants at Soldier Field on Sunday.
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