Chicago Bears position battles: Strong side linebacker

Jack Sanborn — The veteran hoping to show he belongs

Jack Sanborn was in the same situation that Sewell finds himself in today. He thought he would be drafted in the fifth round but ended up not being drafted at all. He is a local kid, having gone to Lake Zurich high school. That gave the Chicago Bears an edge over other teams and he signed with them as a rookie free agent.

Sanborn had to work hard just to win a roster spot. He did just that. During camps in the offseason, he impressed the coaches. Then he went out and had some incredible preseason games. As a result, he earned a spot on the roster.

After the Bears traded Smith, the coaches, thoroughly impressed with Sanborn, tapped him as a replacement. Again, he went out and impressed.

After the trade, Sanborn started six games and did very well. He recorded 59 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 3 quarterback hits, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery. The fans responded and he quickly became a fan favorite.

Suddenly, however, it all ended. He suffered an ankle injury that finished his season.

With the Bears signing Edmunds and Edwards, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Sanborn would be the starter on the strong side. The selection of Sewell, however, changes that thinking. Once again, he has to fight for a spot. This time it is for a starting spot since he will be an integral part of the defense no matter what happens.