Chicago Bears
Julius Peppers - #90 - DE
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 7"/ 287 lbs. |
| Birthday | 01/18/1980 |
| Birthplace | Wilson, NC |
| College | North Carolina |
| Years played | 12 |
| Drafted | 2002, 1st round, 2nd pick by Panthers |
Bears sign TE Eldridge
The Bears signed TE Brody Eldridge to a reserve/future contract on Wednesday, the team announced.
Expanding the playoffs a bad idea
Expanded playoffs? Bad idea if the wild-card games were a clue. Plus, how Leslie Frazier and Mike Shanahan handled QB decisions.
Thursday's 60-second rant: Getting on board with Bears GM Emery
PFW executive editor Dan Arkush has a good vibe about the Bears after GM Phil Emery’s New Years’ Day press conference.
NFC North Spin cycle: Packers, Vikings in, Bears left out
The Vikings earned a rematch with Green Bay in the wild-card playoffs but the Bears have nothing to show for 10 regular-season wins.
Bears hang on, defeat Lions 26-24
Jay Cutler threw for 257 yards and a touchdown, and the Bears kept their playoff hopes alive - for now - with a 26-24 win over the Lions.
Bears add RB Unga, waive Ozougwu
The Bears elevated RB Harvey Unga to the active roster from the practice squad and waived DE Cheta Ozougwu.
Will Bears keep Pro Bowl CB tandem together for long?
Bears CBs Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings are not young players any more, but they are not getting any cheaper with age.
Key matchup: Bears defense vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson
In Wednesday’s key matchup, we look ahead to Sunday’s meeting between the Bears and Lions.
Bears sign S Nolan
The Bears signed S Troy Nolan, the team announced Wednesday. Chicago had an open roster spot after waiving WR Dane Sanzenbacher.
Bears waive WR Sanzenbacher
The Bears waived second-year WR Dane Sanzenbacher on Monday, the team announced.
Bears LS Mannelly signs extension
The Bears announced a one-year extension for LS Patrick Mannelly on Monday.
Week 17 playoff scenarios
Seeding is up for grabs in the AFC, while five teams fight for two spots in the NFC playoffs in Week 17.
NFC North Spin cycle: Packers roll, Vikes control fate
The Packers might have wrapped up the North, but the Vikings' win Sunday means they control their fate in Week 17.
Bears 'D' scores twice in win over Cardinals
Chicago's defense scored two touchdowns and the Bears beat the Cardinals 28-13 on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
PLAYER NEWS
Peppers is going to the Pro Bowl. The Bears said Monday that Peppers had been added to the roster for Sunday's game in Hawaii, replacing Jason Pierre-Paul of the Super Bowl-bound New York Giants. It will be Peppers' seventh appearance in the all-star game.|||||||
Peppers had 27 tackles, 11 sacks, five tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries this season. The 10-year NFL veteran has reached double-digit sacks in seven seasons. Five other Bears were named to the Pro Bowl: linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, running back Matt Forte and defensive backs Corey Graham and Charles Tillman.
Peppers is starting for the Chicago Bears against the Minnesota Vikings after being listed as doubtful because of a sprained left knee.|||||||
Peppers was injured in Monday's loss at Detroit and did not practice all week.
The Chicago Bears hope to have Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers available this week against Minnesota after he mildly sprained his left knee. Peppers was injured in the first half of Monday's loss at Detroit and briefly left the game.|||||||
Coach Lovie Smith says the knee was "still sore" Wednesday, but he will "hopefully" be able to practice Friday and play this week.
The Chicago Bears have restructured Peppers' contract to create more salary-cap room for next season.|||||||
Peppers signed a six-year deal worth potentially $91.5 million a year ago, was due a $10.5 million roster bonus for next season. Instead, the team exercised its right to convert that money into a signing bonus and prorate it over the remaining years of his contract, which runs through the 2015 season. That saves roughly $8 million in cap space for next season, giving the Bears more room to bring in free agents and retain their own.
Peppers has some steep competition Sunday in his return to Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Jordan Gross is a 2008 Pro Bowl pick, anchoring an offensive line that last season allowed DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to become the first teammates to each rush for over 1,100 yards.|||||||
There will be few surprises when they meet on Sunday. Gross has seen all of Peppers' moves and Peppers knows Gross' strengths and weaknesses. "Me and Jordan, we helped each other grow as players a lot," Peppers said, "practicing against each other and having those training camp battles."