Bears waive rookie linebacker Ledarius Mack

As one of their mandatory roster cuts to trim the roster down to 53 players, the Bears have waived rookie linebacker Ledarius Mack. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune was the first to report the news.

Mack, the younger brother of Chicago’s All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack, was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Buffalo after the 2020 draft. He put together a solid campaign in his final collegiate season with the Bulls, tallying seven sacks and 11 tackles for a loss as a senior in 2019.

Though not invited to the Scouting Combine, Mack had an impressive Pro Day, running a 4.66 40-yard dash at 5-foot-11 and 234 pounds. He also came away with a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-8 broad jump, among other measurements. An edge rusher in college, some speculated that Mack would transition to an off-ball linebacker due to a lack of size, but the Bears used him at the edge during training camp.

While quickly catching on as a fan favorite among the Bears’ fan base, the younger Mack was unable to defy the odds and crack the 53-man roster. The lack of a preseason made it an even greater uphill battle for any undrafted free agent to stand out and showcase their skills prior to the regular season. Given that he was waived, he still remains an option to be added to the practice squad.