Chicago Bears Roster Review: Austen Lane

Aug 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Austen Lane (73) during the third quarter of the preseason game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace has quite a rebuilding project on his hands. In the next phase of our Chicago Bears Roster Review, we look at the players who are currently on the Bears roster. We’ll look back at their 2014 season and look ahead to how they might fit into the team’s plans in 2015.

Austen Lane, DE, 27

2014 Review

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Journeyman Austen Lane signed with Chicago late last season as Willie Young went down with an ACL-injury and it’s likely his stay with the Bears will end as quickly as it began. Though the team had also signed him last February, he was subsequently released the following August, a trajectory that is sure to repeat itself for the former fifth-round pick.

The former Jacksonville Jaguar has never recorded more than two sacks in a season and remains at best a replacement player. In the only game Lane was rostered for the Bears, the 27-year old defensive end did not even see the field on a team that was desperate for defensive line production. If Lane was not able to make an impression in 2014, it is unlikely he will be given a chance in 2015.

2015 Outlook

The Bears have made a lot of moves along the defensive line recently including the signing of Pernell McPhee (outside linebacker), Ray McDonald (defensive tackle), and Jarvis Jenkins (defensive end) as the front office attempts to complete the transition to a 3-4 Defense.

With the seven pick in a draft full of elite pass rushers , the Bears are looking like they might actually be crowded along the defensive line to have any room for Austen Lane. If I were Ryan Pace I’d move on from the former Murray State Racer.

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