Chicago Bears eye veteran EDGE signing as Lions threat quietly grows in division
Chicago Bears weigh a veteran edge rusher move as a rival threat quietly builds in the NFC North, adding intrigue to a rising divisional battle.
Chicago Bears eye veteran EDGE signing as Lions threat quietly grows in division originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Chicago Bears enter the upcoming season with momentum, but their path in the NFC North is far from comfortable.
Head coach Ben Johnson, who once worked under Dan Campbell in Detroit, now faces a familiar rival with added tension. Even after finishing atop the division in 2025-26, Chicago dropped both regular-season matchups to the Lions , a result that still lingers as motivation inside the organization. That competitive edge could be tested further if Detroit adds a former Bears defender.
A recent report suggested that edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, most recently with Chicago, could land with the Lions. While not viewed as a headline signing, the 2021 first-round pick has shown flashes of productivity and will turn 27 in April. His journey from Tampa Bay to Cleveland and then Chicago reflects a player still searching for consistency but capable of contributing in the right system.
There is also an underlying concern tied to familiarity. A recent departure joining a division opponent always introduces a layer of intrigue, especially when schemes and tendencies are still fresh. Meanwhile, early projections place Chicago at No.