Grady Jarrett
Getty
Grady Jarrett of the Chicago Bears.
Grady Jarrett arrived in Chicago with quite a bit of fanfare.
A two-time Pro Bowler with the Atlanta Falcons, the veteran defensive tackle signed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Bears in March, but unfortunately, Jarrett has struggled just to stay on the field. A lingering knee issue has limited his availability, and what was meant to be a statement signing has become something else entirely.
In an October 20 appearance on 670 The Score’s Mully & Haugh Show, insider Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune said he believes Jarrett had a procedure done on his right knee already this season.
“He’s still hobbled a little bit — you could notice there’s an issue with his right knee,”
Biggs said about Jarrett. “I believe that he had a procedure done on the knee. So we’ll see what his practice situation is like this week, as they try to get him back. He’s had a ton of durability throughout his career.”
More on Brad Biggs Saying Chicago Bears DT Grady Jarrett May Have Had Procedure on His Injured Knee
Grady Jarrett
GettyBrad Biggs dropped an interesting nugget on Bears DT Grady Jarrett having a potential procedure done on his injured right knee.
The second Biggs mentioned Jarrett potentially having a procedure or surgery on his knee, co-hosts Mike Mulligan and David Haugh jumped on it, asking for confirmation.
“That’s my belief,” Biggs said, adding:
“He got hurt in Week 1. The injury happened in Week 1 in the opener, and then he tried to play through it. And I think they realized that, well, you know, we need some rest –we need to take a look at this thing. And so that’s why when he was out there, you didn’t see the Grady Jarrett you were hoping to because he hasn’t been at full strength. But like you talk about a position, they’ve got ample number of guys on the defensive line.”
Jarrett, now 32, built a decade-long career with the Falcons as an elite run-stuffer and quarterback harasser. He’s racked up 36.5 sacks and 500 tackles.
He suffered a torn ACL late in October of 2023, but by 2024, he was back on the field for all 17 games, producing 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. Biggs doesn’t think the Bears have seen a healthy Jarrett at all yet this season, but he didn’t give an update as to when the veteran DT might return. The Bears didn’t put him on IR, so that’s probably a good sign.
Bears Defense Has Been Heating Up Lately
The uncertainty around Jarrett’s health has added some understandable concern. Jarrett is in his early 30s, a season removed from ACL surgery and has appeared in only three games this year with no sacks so far. Chicago didn’t commit significant guaranteed money — nearly $28 million — for a rotational presence.
Without Jarrett, Gervon Dexter and veteran Andrew Billings have been handling the load inside. The unit has been improving consistently, and Chicago’s defense is playing its best football of the season so far. In the team’s Week 7 win over the Saints, Dennis Allen’s unit held New Orleans to 44 rushing yards, forced four turnovers and sacked quarterback Spencer Rattler four times. It was the kind of performance the Bears envisioned when they signed Jarrett — only it happened without him on the field.
If he can return and recapture at least some of the get-off and power he’s been known for, the Bears should be in very good shape.