Cheta

Ozougwu

Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant as the No. 254 overall pick in the draft, Ozougwu failed to earn a practice squad spot with the Texans last September. He’ll pitch in on special teams if he makes the Bears’ roster.

Fully recovered from a broken hand that limited him last season, the 2010 fourth-rounder Wootton is as healthy as he’s been in the NFL. Wootton has dropped his body/fat to 11 percent so he’ll be able to “run all day” in training camp.

Ozougwu was beaten out in training camp by rookie Cornelius Washington. When the Bears claimed David Bass off waivers, Ozougwu became expendable.

Ozougwu has been bouncing around the NFL since the Texans took him in the seventh round of the 2011 draft. He’s a long shot to last in New Orleans.

Ozougwu, 25, appeared in seven games last season, notching five tackles and one sack. He faced long odds of making the 53-man roster after the Bears added Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen, and Israel Idonije in free agency.

The game-day roster would go from 45 to 48. Draft picks and undrafted free agents won’t have nearly as much time to learn systems without OTAs or rookie camps, so roster expansion would allow teams to keep the players’ rights instead of having to give up on them because they aren’t contributing right away.

Ozougwu isn’t much of an athlete at 6'2/251, but he is a bright fellow (3.41 GPA in Economics), so intelligence won’t stand in his way of transitioning from college end to NFL 3-4 outside linebacker. Also a first-team All-Conference USA pick as a senior, Ozougwu racked up 26 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and four forced fumbles in his career. He’s a local product and will be an immediate fan favorite for his “Irrelevancy” in Houston.

A defensive end at Rice, Ozougwu was this year’s Mr. Irrelevant as the No. 254 overall pick in the draft. He spent the night at a local hospital, so the Texans will tread carefully with his return.