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3 things to know about Chicago Bears new LB A.J. Klein

By Parker Hurley

Oct 29, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker AJ Klein celebrates after a play agains the Chicago Bears at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory credit: Scott Clause/The Advertiser vis USA TODAY NETWORK
Oct 29, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker AJ Klein celebrates after a play agains the Chicago Bears at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory credit: Scott Clause/The Advertiser vis USA TODAY NETWORK /
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2. How A.J. Klein fits the Chicago Bears’ defense

Most of his starts have been as a fill-in for an injured linebacker. In Carolina, he was a sub for Luke Kuechly, and Thomas Davis. In New Orleans, he was getting real snaps, but in Buffalo, it was when Matt Milano got banged up.

While he only saw three real seasons as a penciled-in starter in two linebacker sets, the Panthers and Bills did trust him as a SAM linebacker in three linebacker sets. That is probably where he will fit into the Chicago Bears rotation.

As we said, this is a 31-year-old signed last month. If the Chicago Bears are smart, they are starting Jack Sanborn next week. Sanborn is a UDFA, but he is a rookie, and if they feel like he can become a starter, they have to find out in the next 10 weeks before they realize they need to do something this off-season.

So, Sanborn will step into the WILL position. He started at SAM last week, and the Chicago Bears only have Joe Thomas and Matt Adams as depth. Adams is typically viewed as the MIKE backup, so Thomas and Klein can compete for SAM snaps. This is about 15 snaps per game, but with Sanborn moving up a peg, they needed someone to fill-in, whether it be the backup SAM or starter in the role.

That is what Klein should be looked at as. Without injuries, he should max out at 15 defensive snaps, if he can beat out Thomas.

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