Veteran pass rusher Jacob Martin signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears this offseason valued at just under $1.3 million.
Martin, who is 28 years old, has played in 91 games since joining the league in 2018 and has started 15 of those games. Analysts, including Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire and The Athletic’s Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain, had expected Martin to make the Bears’ 53-man roster based on his performance during the spring and early summer. However, his recent injury has altered those expectations.
Martin sustained a foot or ankle injury early in training camp, which has prevented him from participating in the team’s two preseason games. This absence has negatively impacted his chances of making the final roster.
In their latest roster projection on August 8, Jahns and Fishbain excluded Martin from the final 53-man roster. They noted that Martin’s injury might increase the need for the Bears to acquire another edge rusher before the start of the season.
Given the relatively small financial commitment to Martin, his release is a real possibility. Over the past six seasons, Martin has played for five different teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts. Last season with the Colts, he appeared in all 17 games, recording 2.0 sacks, one tackle-for-loss, and three quarterback hits.
The Bears have seen promising performances from younger pass rushers in Martin’s absence. Rookie Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy, who spent most of 2023 on the Bears’ practice squad, have shown strong preseason performances, potentially pushing Martin out of contention.
Daniel Hardy got the sack on this play, and he played well against the Bills, but look at the power Austin Booker generated on this rush.
Booker knocked back the RG and turned him around. The power rush collapsed the pocket and forced the QB to move. Hardy used the spin move… pic.twitter.com/P6hXXwZHTN
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 12, 2024
The Bears have previously cut more established veterans in favor of promising young players, such as when they released veteran quarterback P.J. Walker last year in favor of undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent, who performed well as a backup.
Daniel Hardy, a 2022 seventh-round pick who was initially with the Rams, has been a standout in the preseason. Hardy, who was picked up by the Bears after being released by the Rams, has impressed with his performance, including a strong showing against the Bills and the Hall of Fame game. If he continues to perform at a high level, he could secure a spot on the Bears’ final roster.
