The Chicago Bears are clinging to playoff hopes in the NFC with a 3-6 record.
Having Khalil Mack on the field would go a long way toward helping the defense hold its own.
Unfortunately, he has been dealing with a foot injury that has limited him to seven games this season.
Rest was the answer to start, but the Bears provided an awful update Friday afternoon.
Mack is officially out for the year.
The #Bears tried to let him rest but in the end, surgery it is. https://t.co/2LQg85zZU1
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 19, 2021
That is a terrible bit of news for the team to get just two days before a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Mack Is Officially Out
The star defender was off to a great start this season with six sacks in seven games.
But the foot problem was not going away and the team tried to just let him rest.
If he requires surgery, then the problem must have led to a ton of pain.
So what does his future hold in Chicago?
From NFL Now: The #Bears have lost star pass-rusher Khalil Mack for the season. pic.twitter.com/I1hX0RpF11
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 19, 2021
He is under contract with the team through 2024, but his dead cap value drops to $24 million in 2022.
The Bears may just want to keep him at this point to avoid losing a key fixture on defense at a time when they are not paying a quarterback or another skill player serious money.
That is also a hefty dead cap figure if he comes back after that surgery and is back to his old ways.
The Bears are a mess and things may only change if they move on from Matt Nagy.
Mack being out and the defense being weakened could mean the current four-game losing streak continues through the holidays.
If sweeping changes are made, perhaps that is what leads Mack to be on the open market following the season.
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