Bears sign DT James Lynch to 1-year deal

The Bears added depth to their defensive tackle position Wednesday when they agreed to sign James Lynch to a one-year deal, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times.

Lynch has spent the last two years with the Titans, where he appeared in every game, starting one, and totaled 1 ½ sacks. He spent 2020-23 with the Vikings, the team that drafted him in Round 4 out of Baylor, where he set the program’s career sacks record. He tore his ACL during training camp in 2023 and missed the entire season.

The Bears entered free agency with only two defensive tackles on their roster: Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett. They’ve since added three players to the group, all on one-year deals: the Colts’ Neville Gallimore, the Falcons’ Kentavius Street and now Lynch.

The Bears vowed to get better against the run. Lynch’s Pro Football Focus run defense grade last year ranked 46^th out of 134 defensive tackles.

Lynch, 27, is the son of a former Nebraska linebacker — which is why his middle name is Husker.