53 days until Chicago Bears 2017 season kicks off: John Timu profile

The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway. With 53 days to go until the Bears season kicks off we will highlight linebacker, John Timu.

2016 Review

Timu spent most of the last season on the active roster. He was active for 11 games, started five and played in 185 defensive snaps. Most were in the middle, filling in for Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, but some of his snaps came with him lined up on the outside. Timu also had 137 valuable special teams snaps.

2017 Outlook

The team did not add at linebacker, and Danny Trevathan may be out a while, but it would still be a worst case scenario for the Bears if Timu ends up in a bigger role in 2017 as he had in 2016. Timu is going to have a fighting chance at making the roster. He can certainly make it through his special teams play and knowledge of the playbook.

However, he should be looked at as just a special teamer and in a best case scenario, Nick Kwiatkowski or Trevathan comes back to step in beside Jerrell Freeman for a full season.

Next: Johnathan Anderson Profile

Future with the Bears

Timu could still very easily be cut. There are plenty of options at both linebacker positions, and if all players are healthy he is going to slide to the brink of the cut line. He is owed very little and there is no long term commitment to him. Even if he makes the team, he is a restricted free agent. It will be up to Timu as to how long he can stick around with the team, but he will have to start proving it on special teams.