Ego Ferguson

The Chicago Bears announced on Saturday that DL Ego Ferguson was placed on season-ending IR with a lingering knee injury. In a corresponding move, the team signed second-year DT Bruce Gaston off of Green Bay's practice squad.

Fantasy Impact

Last year's second-round selection out of LSU, Ferguson made three tackles in the Bears' newly installed 3-4 defense. He was doubtful to play this week with the knee issue that has bothered him all season. The hope is he can come back healthy next year as we've seen knee problems really hurt 300-pound linemen often. Gaston had a tackle in two games for the rival Packers. He'll be active on Sunday in Detroit.

Ego Ferguson slimmed down this off-season as he worked out three times a day which included some high-intensity boxing. He's been asked to switch over from DT to DE in Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense and with that he has dropped about 20 lbs. He played at 310 a year ago and is now at 290-295.

Fantasy Impact

With that being said, Ferguson is penciled in as a starter opposite Jarvis Jenkins at DE while the DT spot should be manned by Jeremiah Ratliff if he returns by Week 4. For now rookie Eddie Goldman should be the man in the middle depending on if he can recover fully from the concussion he suffered last week. The Bears' defensive line is beat up to say the least and last year's second round pick, Ferguson has become very crucial to this defensive unit. Watch for an improved season from the LSU product.