Where Taco Charlton fits into Chicago Bears defensive line

The Chicago Bears’ defensive line has been shaken up in the past month. Aside from the Robert Quinn trade, now they are dealing with an injury to Al-Quadin Muhammad. Muhammad did not practice again Wednesday, indicating he may be out against the Atlanta Falcons.

With those two out, the team had to rely on Kingsley Jonathan and Gerri Green to be their third and fourth edge rushers. That has a lot of fans questioning, who?

Chicago Bears sign Taco Charlton from New Orleans Practice Squad

That is why the team decided to waive Jonathan and add Taco Charlton from the New Orleans Saints. Many know Charlton as a former first-round pick, but he has bounced around and has been a bust by most accounts, other than that he is still in the NFL. Still, he did spend time with the Kansas City in 2020. That means that Ryan Poles was at least comfortable with who he is as a person as well.

The team had to add Charlton to the active roster to make a spot for Charlton, so they may be hoping that Jonathan can clear waivers and turn around to the practice squad. That would likely be the case because they are still thin.

With Muhammad likely out Charlton went from the practice squad to number three on the edge rusher depth chart. He is an injury away from starting and will be behind a rookie fifth-round pick in Dominique Robinson.

The Chicago Bears will have two choices. First, they could call up Green, who played four snaps Sunday or hope to re-sign Jonathan, who has 34 career snaps, including 10 on Sunday. Either way, one of Green or Jonathan will be active and will be the fourth edge rusher.

With Muhammad out, the team has not relied on their depth nearly as much. That is because when Muhammad and Quinn started, it was Robinson and Trevis Gipson as the depth. Now, they are the two starters.

So, they get full workloads. Green and Jonathan combined for 14 snaps, and that is about it for the relief that the starters got, sans a snap or two when Angelo Blackson moved outside.

In most occasions, you could bank on Charlton getting 10 to 12 snaps, while one of Jonathan or Green will get called up for the five to ten snap role. Then, it will be Robinson and Gipson until their wheels fall off.