The Bears on Thursday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defensive tackle Andrew Billings, pending a physical, and released backup quarterback Trevor Siemian.
Billings, 28, has appeared in 67 NFL games with 51 starts over five seasons with the Bengals (2017-19), Browns (2021) and Raiders (2022), registering 120 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss.
The 6-1, 328-pounder was chosen by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of Baylor. After missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury he sustained in training camp, Billings became a regular contributor. He played in 15 games with seven starts in 2017, started all 16 contests in 2018 and opened 14 of 16 games played in 2019.
Billings signed with the Browns in 2020 but opted out of the season due to COVID-19. He returned to play in six games, all as a reserve, in 2021 before being waived in mid-November and later spending time on the practice squad with the Dolphins and Chiefs.
Billings joined the Raiders last year and started all 14 games he played, compiling a career-high 39 tackles with one sack and three tackles-for-loss.
Billings is the seventh free agent the Bears have added in the first two days of free agency, joining linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, guard Nate Davis, defensive end DeMarcus Walker, running back Travis Homer and quarterback P.J. Walker.
Siemian signed with the Bears last year to back up Justin Fields. The Northwestern product appeared in two games with one start, completing 15 of 26 passes for 184 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a 76.4 rating. His lone start came in a Week 12 loss to the Jets that Fields missed with left-shoulder injury.
Prior to joining the Bears, Siemian played in 35 NFL games with 30 starts over five seasons with the Broncos (2015-17), Jets (2019) and Saints (2021). He was released a few hours after the Bears agreed to terms with P.J. Walker.
