The Bears on Saturday signed defensive lineman Angelo Blackson to a two-year contract.
Blackson, 28, has appeared in 85 games with 30 starts over six NFL seasons with the Titans (2015-16), Texans (2017-19) and Cardinals (2020). He has registered 101 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 11 tackles-for-loss, 17 quarterback hits, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Last season Blackson was a key member of Arizona's defense. Playing in all 16 games with nine starts, he equaled career highs with 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks and established personal highs with four tackles-for-loss and eight quarterback hits. He also played a career-high 50 percent of the Cardinals' defensive snaps.
Blackson was selected by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2015 draft (100th overall) out of Auburn. The 6-4, 319-pounder played two seasons with Tennessee before being waived during final cuts in 2017. After spending two months on the Patriots practice squad, he signed with the Texans Nov. 1, 2017.
Blackson appeared in 40 games with 20 starts in three seasons with Houston, starting all 15 games he played in 2019 and recording 20 tackles. He was released by the Texans as part of final cuts last year and joined the Cardinals five days before Arizona's regular-season opener.
Blackson's addition should help make up for the loss of defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris, who agreed to terms with the Jaguars Wednesday after spending five years with the Bears. Robertson-Harris joined the Bears in 2016 as an undrafted free agent from UTEP, but he sat out his entire rookie campaign with an illness. After being switched from outside linebacker to defensive end, he appeared in 52 games with 13 starts over four seasons, compiling 75 tackles, 7.5 sacks and nine tackles-for-loss. Robertson-Harris missed the final eight contests last year with a shoulder injury.
Take a look at new Bears defensive lineman Angelo Blackson in action. The six-year veteran has registered 101 tackles and 6.0 sacks during stops in Arizona, Houston and Tennessee.
