So much for having a clean slate on the injury front.
Pernell McPhee has been placed on PUP. pic.twitter.com/9918IxvVVj
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 27, 2017
The Chicago Bears announced that outside linebacker Pernell McPhee was going to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Earlier – you know, when GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox were lauding the team’s impeccable health status entering camp – we discussed that there were two types of PUP lists. The one McPhee has landed on will take him off the practice field, but will keep him involved with team meetings and other off-the-field football happenings. Players who start training camp on the PUP list can be removed at any time during the preseason, and they are eligible to return to practice upon their removal from the list.
McPhee’s placement on the PUP list is a bit concerning, especially knowing missed six games to start the 2016 season while on the PUP list after offseason shoulder surgery. One year later, knee surgery will put him on the list to start training camp. McPhee, who said he was feeling sexy earlier in the offseason when asked how things were on the road to recovery, has played two seasons in Chicago, picking up 10 sacks and 55 in 23 games.
However, it’s the nine missed games (seven of which came last year) that are concerning for a player who is quite important to a Bears’ defense he believes has potential to wreck opposing offenses.
McPhee signed a five-year deal worth nearly $40 million back in 2015, with $15.5 million in guarantees per spotrac. He has a base salary of $6.95 million, and spotrac notes there is a potential out in 2018 with $1 million in dead cap money.
With McPhee on the sidelines, the Bears have at least five other outside linebackers (including Leonard Floyd and Willie Young, among others) in camp who will see an uptick in time on the practice field.