Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace took a calculated risk this offseason when he failed to add an established pass rusher to line up opposite Leonard Floyd on defense.
Instead, Pace signed Aaron Lynch, the former 49er who had a productive rookie season in 2014 under Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The problem with this strategy is that Lynch, whose production has been on a steady decline since that year with Fangio, has failed to prove he can stay healthy and contribute for 16 games thus far in his career.
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Through the first week of training camp, Lynch isn't doing anything to change that narrative. He was absent from practice again Thursday due to a hamstring injury that's kept him out of every practice so far.
In addition to Lynch, Chicago was without linebackers Danny Trevathan, Joel Iyiegbuniwe and Kasim Edebali, cornerbacks Sherrick McManis, Kevin Toliver, and Rashard Fant, tight end Ben Braunecker and offensive lineman Will Pericak.
Trevathan, like Lynch, has missed all of training camp as he recovers from a hamstring problem.