Bears linked to signing former Steelers 6-foot-8 beast who hasn't played in NFL since 2021

Billy Heyen

Bears linked to signing former Steelers 6-foot-8 beast who hasn't played in NFL since 2021 image

The Chicago Bears worked out a former NFL starter who is 6-foot-8 and 358 pounds.

That was the highlight of the Bears' transaction report on Thursday, with Zach Banner in town to show the Chicago leadership what he can do.

It's a fascinating possible pursuit by the Bears.

Banner was a fourth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 out of USC.

He never played for the Colts, but instead played his first eight NFL games for the Cleveland Browns as a rookie.

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He missed the 2018 season, then returned for 2019 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played in 14 games, starting one.

Banner started the lone game he played in 2020, then got seven more games with Pittsburgh in 2021.

That was his last action in the NFL.

Banner most recently played in the United Football League this spring, appearing for the Houston Roughnecks.

The Bears haven't been reported as signing Banner. They're likely set on their offensive line and just considering adding some sizable depth.

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According to depth chart website Ourlads, the Bears currently are set to start these five linemen in Week 1:

  • LT Braxton Jones
  • LG Joe Thuney
  • C Drew Dalman
  • RG Jonah Jackson
  • RT Darnell Wright

Chicago then has an additional five offensive linemen on its 53-man roster.

Banner's appearance at this workout might suggest an NFL return is coming for him somewhere, even if it's not with the Bears. It'll be worth tracking just given his raw size and past experience.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle