LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears placed linebacker Pernell McPhee on injured reserve, the team announced on Wednesday.
McPhee battled a shoulder injury in recent weeks that kept him out of Chicago's 33-7 victory over the Bengals on Dec. 10. McPhee was active last week in Detroit but unable to finish the game after he re-injured his shoulder.
McPhee's career with the Bears appears to be at a crossroads. The veteran linebacker is out of guaranteed money and scheduled to earn $7.575 million (that includes workout and roster bonuses) in 2018. The Bears would open up $7.075 million in cap space if McPhee, 29, is released in the offseason.
Either way, it's difficult to envision the Bears bringing McPhee back at that price. McPhee, while a spirited leader, has been reduced to a rotational role because of chronic knee issues. McPhee spent the last two preseasons on the PUP list and missed seven total games in 2016.
McPhee played 14 games and tallied six sacks, one interception and 10 tackles for loss in his first season with the Bears (2015).
The Bears originally signed McPhee to a five-year contract that included $15.5 million in guarantees -- money that McPhee has already collected.
Linebacker Jonathan Anderson will take McPhee's spot on the current 53-man roster heading into Sunday's game versus the Cleveland Browns. The Bears also signed wide receiver Mekale McKay to the practice squad.
