Bostic traded to Patriots for draft pick

It wouldn't have been a shock if linebacker Jon Bostic didn't make the Bears' 53-man roster coming out of training camp, so it's no surprise he was traded Monday night to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round pick.

The trade happened just a couple hours after the Bears shipped the NFL's active sack leader Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers, also for a sixth-round pick. Bostic must pass a physical before the deal, which was first reported by ESPN, can be consummated.

Bostic, the second-round draft pick (50th overall) in 2013, led the Bears with 127 tackles last season, despite starting just eight games, including at least one at each of the three linebacker spots in the Bears' 4-3 defense.

But Bostic never seemed to have a home in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's 3-4 scheme, partly because he was rarely healthy.

The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Bostic was bothered by a back injury last season. That lingered through the off-season, along with hip and shin issues that combined to keep him off the field for minicamp and OTA practices. He has not played in the regular season because of an ankle injury.

Bostic's departure leaves just four players out pf 12 picks still on the roster from former G.M. Phil Emery's first two drafts (2012 and 2013): Shea McClellin, Alshon Jeffery, Kyle Long and Marquess Wilson.

All eight of the players Emery drafted in his last season (2014) remain on the team. Among them are a pair of sixth-rounders, punter Patrick O'Donnell and No. 3 quarterback David Fales. This year's sixth-round pick, offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje, has been a Sunday inactive in each of the first three games.

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