The Chicago Bears’ investment in Dayo Odeyingbo may hinge on an injury settlement after his difficult 2025 season. The team signed him to a three-year deal worth $48 million last offseason to bolster the pass rush opposite Montez Sweat, but Odeyingbo’s first year in Chicago was cut short by a season-ending Achilles tear in November. He appeared in eight games (all starts) and totaled 21 tackles, four QB hits, two tackles for loss, and one sack, prompting questions about whether Chicago can move on from the contract.
Windy City Gridiron’s Bill Zimmerman suggested an injury settlement as a potential path to release Odeyingbo, a mechanism typically used when a player is waived injured. The arrangement would pay the player for the estimated recovery period, after which the player is released rather than placed on injured reserve. However, any meaningful settlement would require Odeyingbo’s cooperation and willingness to forfeit guaranteed money, given his substantial 2026 guarantees.
The viability of an injury settlement is uncertain. While it could provide a way for Chicago to reduce future cap hits if Odeyingbo cannot return to form, settlements are more commonly utilized for fringe players or shorter-term injuries. Achilles injuries are notoriously challenging for pass rushers to rebound from, and the Bears will need to assess Odeyingbo’s recovery and on-field potential this offseason.
Regardless of Odeyingbo’s status, Chicago plans to address its pass rush, having recorded 35 sacks in 2025 (22nd in the league). If Odeyingbo returns to health and form, the Bears may keep him; if his recovery stalls, an injury settlement could become a more likely option to clear cap space and reallocate resources.
