Bears linebacker Sam Acho out for the year

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy announced on Monday that outside linebacker Sam Acho will miss the rest of season after suffering a torn pectoral on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Acho, 30, is in his fourth season with the Bears. Through four games this season, the Texas alumnus only has one tackle. He held a much bigger role in 2017, when he started in 12 games and tallied three sacks..

Acho has served as a valuable special teams player and a rotational pass rusher since he joined the team from the Arizona Cardinals. He has also been a positive influence in Chicago’s locker room, as he was the team’s candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award last year.

Although the additions of Khalil Mack and Aaron Lynch have diminished the need for Acho on defense, his departure is a big blow for the Bears’ third phase.

Jacob Infante is a Chicago Bears writer at SB Nation’s Windy City Gridiron. He is also the lead NFL Draft analyst for The Blitz Network, and he additionally covers the NFL Draft for USA Today’s Draft Wire. He can be reached through Twitter @jacobinfante24 or e-mailed at jacobinfante1208@gmail.com.