Ngakoue will not face his former team on Sunday.
Yannick Ngakoue’s New England Patriots debut will have to wait. As was announced by the team on Saturday, the newly-signed outside linebacker was downgraded to out for its upcoming game against the Chicago Bears.
Ngakoue joined New England’s active roster on Friday following his release from the Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots used their position atop the NFL waiver claim order to bring the 29-year-old on board.
The quick turnaround and a lack of practice opportunities made Ngakoue playing against the Bears unlikely from the get-go. Now officially ruled out, he will join safety Kyle Dugger and linebacker Christian Elliss on the inactives list; the former will not make the trip to Illinois due to an ankle injury, with the latter dealing with an abdominal issue.
Ngakoue not suiting up against the Bears — the team he played for in 2023 — means the Patriots will use the same edge personnel on Sunday they had available last week versus the Tennessee Titans. Anfernee Jennings is the top option at the position, with versatile defensive linemen Keion White and Deatrich Wise Jr. also expected to play prominent roles as end-of-line players. Ochaun Mathis offers additional depth.
The Patriots’ Week 10 game against the Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.