Report: Bears re-sign defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.

Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. is going to remain in Chicago.

The Bears defensive end has agreed to a three-year, $11.5 million contract with the team, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Edwards, a 2015 second-round draft pick of the Raiders, signed with the Bears just days before the 2020 season. Edwards had been with New Orleans in 2019 and during training camp in 2020 before being released by the Saints. The 27-year-old had his best NFL season last year, recording four sacks and six tackles for loss in 15 games with the Bears.

Edwards faces charges in North Carolina after allegedly assaulting a 28-year-old woman in the team’s Charlotte hotel when the Bears played at the Panthers in October. Bears coach Matt Nagy declined to address the allegations at the time and Edwards remained with the team and played the rest of the season.

Additionally, Edwards faces a two-game suspension to start the 2021 season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing drugs.

Even so, the Bears are bringing him back. According to the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Edwards will make $4.5 million in the first year of his new contract.