The Chicago Bears are considering signing former Buffalo Bills edge rusher A.J. Epenesa. The team worked him out recently, showing that there is legitimate interest in boosting the edge depth chart with the veteran.
The Chicago Bears work out veteran edge rusher A.J. Epenesa
Epenesa has been with the Bills for the past six seasons after he was a second-round draft pick for the team. He had just 2.5 sacks in two years to start his career, but he hit at least six sacks in each of the next three seasons, totalling 19 sacks from 2022-24.
However, in 2025, he dropped down to just 2.5 sacks. He was considered healthy, but the Cleveland Browns brought him in this offseason with intentions of signing him to a deal in free agency. However, Epenesa was the rare case where the free agent deal did not go through due to a failed physical.
It was not noted what exactly was the reason for the failed physical, but it is noteworthy that no other teams have signed him since the Browns decided to pass on him back in March.
So, the Bears' bringing him could certainly signal interest and a signing coming soon. At the same time, it could signal that Epenesa is still not healthy because if he were, the team would have signed him on the spot, and this story would not have had the time to get out.
Bears need more edge rusher help
The good news from the report is that the Bears clearly agree with the fans and media that the edge rusher room is not complete. Whether it was just the way the board broke or whatever caused them to not draft an edge rusher it was not because they are comfortable with the room.
However, when you pass on all of the options in the draft, you are stuck with working out players who have previously failed physicals and might not be able to make legitimate impacts this season.
Still, they currently have Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Shemar Turner, and Austin Booker as their top four edge rushers.
Odeyingbo and Turner are coming back from injuries, and Turner mostly played inside last season. Meanwhile, Booker would be at his best as a rotational speed rusher who is limited in the number of snaps he takes. All of that is to say that Epenesa might not be the last edge rusher they bring in this summer.
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