Is Chicago Bears edge rusher Pernell McPhee in for a bigger workload?

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Pernell McPhee
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Pernell McPhee

Chicago Bears edge rusher Pernell McPhee looks like he is finally healthy. Will he continue his ascension of playing time?

One of the most disappointing stories of the offseason was Pernell McPhee. The Chicago Bears surprised us when they placed him on the PUP with a shoulder injury. McPhee missed the entire preseason but vowed to be back by the regular season.

He made true on that promise, and while he only played four snaps in Week One, he was active. From, there he has seen an ascension in playing time every single week. From his four snaps to start the year, he moved up to 24 in Week Two, 27 in Week Three and finally 34 in Week Four.

He has slowly turned the position into a 50/50 split, and at his trajectory should win up playing closer to 50 snaps per game in the next few weeks. McPhee has had a sack in each of the past two games. According to Pro Football Focus, McPhee has been one of the four highest graded players on the team.

The major losers in this increased role will be Willie Young and Sam Acho. Acho has already seen it going from 39 and 32 snaps in his first two weeks to eight combined in the following two. Young saw it a bit last week when he went from playing 61% of the snaps to 53%.

McPhee is straight up the better player than these two. Young is still going to get his snaps and is going to be able to sub for McPhee and Leonard Floyd. However, his snap percentage could easily be closer to 40% for the remainder of the year. Acho is a special teams player and reserve linebacker and that is how he has been used.

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McPhee looks to be healthy and at his age and new playing weight, he should be able to take on what is close to a full-time role. Look for McPhee to continue to play more snaps, and the momentum of his play to continue the production he has already given.

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