Dominique Robinson’s Time with Chicago Bears Likely Over as Team Moves On
The Chicago Bears’ defensive end Dominique Robinson was a healthy scratch in last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, a move that could signal the end of his tenure with the team.
After a promising offseason overhaul led by General Manager Ryan Poles, many Bears fans hoped the team would finally break through and compete for a playoff spot. However, the reality has been far from expectations, with the team currently on a four-game losing streak, an underperforming offense, and a rookie quarterback still searching for consistency.
Among the disappointments has been Robinson, a player the Bears drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. A former wide receiver turned defensive end, Robinson was seen as a raw, athletic prospect with immense potential. But despite an eye-catching debut, where he recorded 1.5 sacks in his first game, his career has failed to live up to the hype.
In the 29 games since that promising start, Robinson has managed just half a sack and has struggled to secure meaningful playing time. After starting seven games as a rookie and appearing in all 17, Robinson’s role diminished drastically in his second season. This year, he’s appeared in only two games, accumulating just 38 snaps. His lone start in Week 9 came in place of an injured Montez Sweat, but he registered just three tackles and no other significant stats.
Robinson’s lack of impact on the field and his dwindling role suggest that he is not in the Bears’ long-term plans. With the team still in search of a reliable defensive end opposite Sweat, Robinson’s failure to deliver has led the Bears to explore other options. Despite reports that the team had fielded trade offers for Robinson before the deadline, no deal materialized, and now it seems likely the Bears will part ways with him without receiving any return.
With other edge rushers like DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy, Darrell Taylor, and Jacob Martin all ahead of Robinson in the depth chart, it appears his time in Chicago has come to an end. The Bears’ focus on adding new edge rushers this offseason further signals that Robinson’s time with the team may be over.
The inability to find a trade partner for Robinson, especially considering his early potential, has become another frustrating misstep in an increasingly disappointing 2024 season for the Chicago Bears.