Bears sign former Broncos OL Wilkinson; ILB Jones returns
The Bears are adding more depth on their offensive line. The team announced Tuesday it signed offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson to a one-year contract.
Wilkinson, 26, played the previous four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He has appeared in 45 NFL games with 26 starts. Wilkinson served as the Broncos' starting right tackle for seven games last season. A broken shinbone limited him to only nine games overall in 2020.
Wilkinson went undrafted out of Massachusetts in 2017. The 6-foot-4, 329-pound lineman also has NFL experience at right guard.
The Bears released former right tackle Bobby Massie earlier this month, creating an opening at the position.
The Bears' current lineup on the offensive line could be some combination of: left tackle Charles Leno, guard/center James Daniels, guard/center Cody Whitehair, center Sam Mustipher, right guard/right tackle Germain Ifedi and right guard/right tackle Wilkinson.
The Bears face at least two pressing questions on the line. Has Mustipher done enough to show he is a starting center in the NFL, or a backup? And who starts at right tackle?
Signing Wilkinson doesn't preclude the Bears from selecting a tackle in next month's draft. But bringing in Wilkinson gives them a veteran starter who has experience at multiple positions. If the Bears draft a tackle in the first round, they would almost certainly slot the rookie into the starting lineup. If drafting a quarterback becomes the first-round priority, they at least have a serviceable starter at right tackle should they select a lineman who is more of a project later on in the draft.
Jones coming back:
The Bears are bringing back linebacker Christian Jones for a second stint.
The 30-year-old inside linebacker played four seasons with the Bears from 2014 to 2017. He spent the past three seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Jones is signing a one-year contract.
He came to the Bears as an undrafted rookie out of Florida State in 2014. In 63 games with the Bears, he made 31 starts and recorded 262 tackles, 4 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 8 pass breakups and 9 QB hits.
His 90 tackles and 5 tackles for loss in 2017 with the Bears are still career highs. He remained durable in Detroit, playing in 45 out of a possible 48 games during his three seasons with the Lions, making 42 starts.