Overview
- The Bears hosted A.J. Epenesa for a workout last week as part of routine due diligence to evaluate him for emergency depth or a rotational edge role.
- Epenesa agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns in March but the contract collapsed after he failed the team’s physical.
- He remains on the open market and has also worked out for the Miami Dolphins, with no team signing him since the Browns pulled the offer.
- Epenesa has 24 career sacks over six NFL seasons, logged 2.5 sacks and 32 tackles in 2025, and finished 86th of 119 qualifying edge defenders in Pro Football Focus’s 2025 rankings.
- Chicago’s decision hinges on medical checks, Dayo Odeyingbo’s Achilles rehab and roughly $6.46 million in effective cap space, so any Epenesa signing would likely be a low-cost, short-term depth move that could surface before training camp.