Chicago Bears News: Linebacker Mykal Walker claimed off waivers

The Chicago Bears bolstered their linebacking core on Monday as the team claimed linebacker Mykal Walker off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons.

Walker was waived by the Falcons after the team’s first Pre-Season game.

The Chicago Bears made an interesting waiver claim on Monday.

The 2022 season was a breakout season of sorts for Walker as he recorded 107 tackles in his third season in the NFL. Walker also had two interceptions for the Falcons’ defense last season.

The Bears have become very crowded at the linebacker position. Walker is the new player to a linebacking group that includes Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Walker, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, Dylan Cole, DeMarquis Gates, Micah Baskerville, and Buddy Johnson.

Should there be concern over the injury to Edmunds?

Edmunds did not play in Saturday’s game against the Tennessee Titans and has the team’s past 10 practices. Despite the indication that the injury may be serious, Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus has remained firm in his stance that Edmunds will be ready for the team’s Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers. Eberflus has previously told reporters that he would inform if an injury were serious and he has yet to do so in reference to Edmunds.

It’s possible that Walker could be in the mix at the strongside linebacker spot next to Edmunds and Edwards. Sanborn is the incumbent starter at the spot for the Bears’ defense but Sewell has made a strong impression during training camp.

There also may not be a reason to over-analyze the waiver claim for the Bears.

Walker was a very solid linebacker last season and it could be a case where he had too much talent for the Bears to pass up. At the very least, Walker would bridge the gap from the first-team defense to the second-team defense. The Bears were stretched thin at the linebacker position last season and look to be attempting to avoid that fate this season.