The Chicago Bears have announced that nose tackle Andrew Billings will be out for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season due to the torn pectoral muscle he suffered during the Bears’ Week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s an unfortunate update because he hasn’t missed a game for the Bears since joining the NFC North squad last year. The Bears are the fourth NFL team he played for, and he signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract extension last season. This year, he registered his first forced fumble, knocking the ball out of Houston Texans running back Cam Akers’ hands.
Billings started his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. However, he did not play during his rookie year due to a season-ending meniscus tear. After that injury, he played in 47 of the 48 Bengals regular season games and had a career-high 2.5 sacks in 2018.
#Bears defensive coordinator did not downplay the significance of losing Andrew Billings.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) November 7, 2024
"You don't replace someone like that, a pro like that." pic.twitter.com/yHdxOsuDox
After three seasons with Cincinnati, Billings signed with the Cleveland Browns but skipped the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played in Cleveland for one season before getting waived.
Billings also played for the Las Vegas Raiders before signing with the Bears. He has 160 tackles, 20 quarterback hits, and 5.5 sacks in 92 career games. Meanwhile, Zacch Pickens will likely be the next man up in Billings’ absence.
-Lance Fernandez