95 days until Chicago Bears 2017 season kicks off: Jaye Howard profile
The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway for the second season in a row. With 95 days to go until the Bears season kicks off, we will highlight the Bears player that is wearing number 95, defensive lineman, Jaye Howard
2016 Review
Howard was a key starter for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He averaged about 45 snaps per game over the first eight weeks of the season and the Chiefs were 6-2. However, his season ended after week eight when he placed on the Injured Reserved with a hip injury. Howard ended up having hip surgery and was waived this off-season. A healthy Howard had a 5.5. sack season back in 2015, but the Chiefs clearly were pessimistic about his long term ability.
2017 Outlook
The Chiefs also had cap issues. If the Bears doctors cleared him, and think that he can give them starter caliber play in 2017, why wouldn’t he be able to? He has already been sitting out in OTAs, so his participation in training camp will have to be monitored. However, he can get out there and stay healthy, he could turn the Bears defensive line into one of the better units in the league. The combination of Howard, Eddie Goldman, and Akiem Hicks looks good on paper and would be a great boost to the 2017 morale.
Future with the Bears
Howard’s future with the Bears will go as far as his hip takes him. He has the label of an injury liability, and a hip injury truly is a tough one to overcome. That is why the Bears only gave him a one-year deal this offseason. This is a team with nothing to lose, but a lot to gain in Howard.
He will be one of the most interesting players to watch, as his ceiling can be as high as a game-changing addition and his floor can be as low getting him waived in training camp. Keep an eye on the name Jaye Howard as we head even closer to the 2017 Chicago Bears season opener.