Bears lose linebacker Lamarr Houston for the year with torn ACL

By Maher Ayoub | Sep 20, 2016

Oct 26, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston (99) celebrates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

An MRI on Tuesday confirmed that Chicago Bears linebacker Lamarr Houston has a torn ACL and will be out for the rest of the season.

For the second time in three seasons, Lamarr Houston’s season will end early due to a torn ACL. The Chicago Bears linebacker was lost late in their Monday night encounter with the Philadelphia Eagles. Houston went down and gripped his knee in agony.

An MRI on Tuesday confirmed the rumors that Houston had torn his ACL again, according to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo:

MRI confirmed a torn ACL for Bears DE Lamarr Houston, source says. Not surprising. Rough one for Houston, who had an ACL in '14 too.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 20, 2016

Though the circumstances are certainly different this time around, Houston will miss the rest of the season and may have played his last down as a Bear. Houston previously became famous in 2014 for tearing his ACL in a game which his team was down 21 points. Houston leaped in the air to celebrate a sack and immediately went down in pain after landing on his feet.

In 2014, the Bears and Houston agreed to a five-year, $35 million deal with $15 million in guaranteed money. Houston had played at a Pro Bowl level in previous years with the Raiders but wasn’t able to replicate that play in Chicago. He was brought on to play the defensive end in a 4-3 defense but was ineffective at rushing the passer. Chicago switched coaches and defenses the next season, which didn’t seem to bode well for Houston.

After the rough end to 2014, Houston was switched to outside linebacker in a 3-4 formation and led the team with eight sacks in 2015. His pass-rushing ability seemed to be coming back, and he learned the position quickly to end last season. With the Bears marred with injuries, Houston was thrust into a starting role in his first two games of the year.

With two season-ending injuries in a three-season span, Chicago may be forced to cut ties with the 29-year old pass rusher. He is currently under contract through 2018, where he is owed almost $8 million in base pay alone. Adding that to a lack of production and injury issues, Houston may need to find a new team in 2017.

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