The Bears have officially placed outside linebacker Willie Young on injured reserve. This was the expected move after Young suffered a torn triceps muscle. 
Young, 32, has been a key cog of the Bears’ defense since joining the team in 2014. He has made 50 appearances for Chicago and has been an absolute sack machine with 26 in total.
Without him, the Bears will be extra reliant on Pernell McPhee, Leonard Floyd, and Sam Acho for edge pressure. They may also look to the free agent market for reinforcements. Although he is strictly a situational pass rusher at this point, someone like Dwight Freeney could be of interest to Chicago.
Young inked a lucrative extension with the Bears last year and is under contract with the team through the 2018 season. His recovery will not be fun, but he has been here before. Young tore one of his Achilles’ tendons late in the 2014 season and bounced back to play a complete and successful campaign in 2015. In that 2015 season, Young had 6.5 sacks and 30 tackles.