A surprise and potentially significant medical issue discovered during defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi’s standard physical has caused the Chicago Bears to pull their offer, the team revealed in a shocking development Friday.
Larry Ogunjobi fails physical, will not sign with Chicago Bears
On Monday, Ogunjobi agreed to a three-year, $40.5 million contract with the Bears after five seasons spent with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. While the Bears did not specify what issue caused the deal to fall through in their statement, general manager Ryan Poles’ tenor was alarming.
“As I said before, Larry Ogunjobi embodies everything we are looking for in a Bear,” Poles wrote. “He is a special person and player. During the league’s negotiating window earlier this week, we agreed to terms with him, subject to him passing a physical here.
“After a standard and thorough physical and medical review with Larry yesterday afternoon, our medical team deemed him to have failed his physical and therefore, unfortunately, we are not signing him today. This is difficult and it is emotional for everyone involved, but ultimately is what is in the best interest of protecting the Chicago Bears.”
Ogunjobi has been quite healthy during his first five NFL seasons, appearing in 76 of a possible 91 regular-season games. He missed just one in 2022 but injured his foot during the Bengals’ Wild Card win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The issue needed surgery to fix.
“Heart heavy, but my mind clear,” Ogunjobi wrote on Twitter at the time. “The world favors those who bet on themselves. It also favors those who get knocked down 7 times but get up 8. Am I pissed? YES. Am I frustrated? ABSOLUTELY. But will I quit? NEVER.”
Bears sign Justin Jones
With Ogunjobi no longer an option, the Bears quickly moved to add interior defensive line help, signing DT Justin Jones, per ESPN.
Jones in four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers started 35 games in four seasons, totaling 118 tackles and 4.5 sacks.