Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
ANDREW SELIGMAN and ROB MAADDI AP Sports Writers
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles already have one of the NFL’s best defenses.
Now, they’re adding another pass rusher to the mix.
The Eagles acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears for a 2023 fourth-round pick on Wednesday.
The teams said the trade was pending a physical.
Quinn goes from a rebuilding franchise to a Super Bowl contender. The Eagles (6-0) are the lone undefeated team. Philadelphia, coming off a bye, hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.
“I think it’s another great player on this team,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “He has a history of being a great defensive end and edge rusher. I think he’ll help us out in a number of ways. Adds a lot of depth, and I’m excited to meet him. I’m excited to meet him (Thursday) when he comes.”
The 32-year-old Quinn is off to a slow start with just one sack and three quarterback hits after opting not participate in offseason workouts. But he broke Hall of Famer Richard Dent’s franchise record with 18 1/2 sacks last year in a resurgent season.
“I value — I think I’ve talked about that a lot — the locker room and what it means and the culture and it (stinks) to mess with that, to be completely honest with you,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said.
“But again, my job is to do what’s best for this organization not only now, but in the future. I felt like that was the best move for us to make.”
With Quinn, an Eagles defensive line that already has Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Jordan Davis becomes that much more daunting. He replaces defensive end Derek Barnett, who tore an ACL in the opener at Detroit.
The Eagles are holding opponents to 297.8 yards per game, which is fourth in the NFL. They’re fifth against the pass at 188 yards and rank second in interceptions with nine. When it comes to sacks, they’re tied for 10th with 17. And that’s an area where Quinn could help.
He has 102 sacks over 12 seasons with the Rams, Miami, Dallas and Chicago. Quinn was an All-Pro with St. Louis in 2013 when he had a career-high 19 sacks and made his second straight Pro Bowl the following year. He went from 11 1/2 sacks with Dallas in 2019 to just two for Chicago in 2020.
Quinn bounced back in a huge way last year and seemed a likely candidate to be traded in the offseason considering the Bears were essentially starting over. They hired Poles and coach Matt Eberflus to replace the fired Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy after missing the playoffs for the ninth time in 11 years.
But Poles said trading Quinn in the offseason was not his intention.
“I know I wanted Robert on this team in the beginning,” he said. “There weren’t many conversations at all. I was transparent with them — him and his crewー about that. I knew the way he played this game, the motor and all that.”
He said the Bears “needed that” to “kickstart” how the defense would perform under Eberflus and new coordinator Alan Williams.
Quinn, meanwhile, had said several times he would rather remain with the Bears than be traded. Poles said he wasn’t sure how his play this season impacted his market value.
When the deal materialized, it caught star linebacker Roquan Smith off guard. He was at the dais addressing reporters when the news surfaced and he became emotional.
“Man. Yeah, man. (Stinks),” he said, wiping his eyes with his shirt.
He was asked how so.
“Let me take a second for a second, if you don’t mind,” Smith responded. After about 10 seconds, he continued: “You know, I have a great deal of respect for that guy, you know. Damn. Crazy.”
Smith got up and walked away, ending a brief session. A team spokesman told reporters, “We’ll get you tomorrow.”
The Bears (3-4) visit the Dallas Cowboys (5-2) on Sunday. Chicago is coming off a surprising win at New England on Monday night.
Though they’ve struggled against the run, the Bears have been one of the best at defending the pass. But now, they’re without one of their most important players.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Ed Zurga
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1, No. 1 last week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, No. 3)
If there were any lingering doubts about the Chiefs’ offense after the Tyreek Hill trade, they were put to rest Sunday. Kansas City averaged 9.1 yards per play in a 44-23 win over the 49ers, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns against one of the league’s best defenses. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling combined for 235 receiving yards, tight end Travis Kelce caught six passes for 98 yards and Mecole Hardman became the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to have at least two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the same game. The defense also flexed its muscle, sacking Jimmy Garoppolo five times and pressuring him into two interceptions, including one in the end zone near the end of the first half. Mahomes is still one of the toughest quarterbacks to defend in the league, and his new weapons have held up their end of the bargain.
Ed Zurga
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1, No. 1 last week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, No. 3)
If there were any lingering doubts about the Chiefs’ offense after the Tyreek Hill trade, they were put to rest Sunday. Kansas City averaged 9.1 yards per play in a 44-23 win over the 49ers, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns against one of the league’s best defenses. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling combined for 235 receiving yards, tight end Travis Kelce caught six passes for 98 yards and Mecole Hardman became the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to have at least two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the same game. The defense also flexed its muscle, sacking Jimmy Garoppolo five times and pressuring him into two interceptions, including one in the end zone near the end of the first half. Mahomes is still one of the toughest quarterbacks to defend in the league, and his new weapons have held up their end of the bargain.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Tony Gutierrez
4. New York Giants (6-1, No. 5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, No. 4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-3, No. 7)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, No. 10)
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, No. 8)
This felt like the week the Giants were going to come back down to earth. The Jaguars entered Sunday as the betting favorites, but New York once again found a way to win, this time stopping wide receiver Christian Kirk at the 1-yard line as time expired to secure a 23-17 victory. Daniel Jones has become one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league (yes, really), passing for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 107 yards and a score as Jacksonville focused on limiting star running back Saquon Barkley, who finally got going in the fourth quarter. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has made an immediate impact with his consistent pressure on the quarterback, and unheralded contributors like veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau are making big plays. Injuries to rookie right tackle Evan Neal (knee), tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and left guard Ben Bredeson (knee) will test the Giants’ depth, but there’s no question coach Brian Daboll has built a tough team that’s proving even tougher to beat.
In the AFC North, the race between the Ravens and Bengals is heating up. While Baltimore exorcised some demons by finally holding on to a fourth-quarter lead in a 23-20 win over Cleveland, Cincinnati showed off the offensive firepower that led it to a surprising Super Bowl berth in a 35-17 win over Atlanta. Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards and three touchdowns, including his NFL-best 12th passing touchdown of 50 or more yards since 2021. The Bengals nearly had three 100-yard receivers in Tyler Boyd (155), Ja’Marr Chase (130) and Tee Higgins (93), reminding everyone that this remains one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Tony Gutierrez
4. New York Giants (6-1, No. 5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, No. 4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-3, No. 7)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, No. 10)
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, No. 8)
This felt like the week the Giants were going to come back down to earth. The Jaguars entered Sunday as the betting favorites, but New York once again found a way to win, this time stopping wide receiver Christian Kirk at the 1-yard line as time expired to secure a 23-17 victory. Daniel Jones has become one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league (yes, really), passing for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 107 yards and a score as Jacksonville focused on limiting star running back Saquon Barkley, who finally got going in the fourth quarter. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has made an immediate impact with his consistent pressure on the quarterback, and unheralded contributors like veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau are making big plays. Injuries to rookie right tackle Evan Neal (knee), tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and left guard Ben Bredeson (knee) will test the Giants’ depth, but there’s no question coach Brian Daboll has built a tough team that’s proving even tougher to beat.
In the AFC North, the race between the Ravens and Bengals is heating up. While Baltimore exorcised some demons by finally holding on to a fourth-quarter lead in a 23-20 win over Cleveland, Cincinnati showed off the offensive firepower that led it to a surprising Super Bowl berth in a 35-17 win over Atlanta. Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards and three touchdowns, including his NFL-best 12th passing touchdown of 50 or more yards since 2021. The Bengals nearly had three 100-yard receivers in Tyler Boyd (155), Ja’Marr Chase (130) and Tee Higgins (93), reminding everyone that this remains one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
David Zalubowski
9. Miami Dolphins (4-3, No. 17)
10. New York Jets (5-2, No. 11)
11. Los Angeles Rams (3-3, No. 12)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, No. 9)
13. Tennessee Titans (4-2, No. 16)
From top to bottom, the AFC East has a pretty strong case to be the best division in football. The return of Tua Tagovailoa from a concussion helped the Dolphins secure a 16-10 win over the Steelers on Sunday night, but the third-year quarterback looked rusty, throwing four near-interceptions that Pittsburgh defenders dropped. It took three picks from the Miami secondary against rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett to salt this one away, as the Dolphins’ offense produced just 127 yards in the second half. A healthy Tagovailoa with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill remains a legitimate threat, but outside of an incredible fourth quarter against the Ravens way back in Week 2, it has been disappointing.
The Jets haven’t been dominant, but they’ve avoided turnovers and played sound defense on the way to four straight wins, the latest 16-9 over the Broncos and backup quarterback Brett Rypien. Sunday’s victory came at a cost, however, as star rookie running back Breece Hall (torn ACL) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) were both lost to season-ending injuries. Hall had been the engine of the Jets’ turnaround, averaging 5.8 yards per carry while being a reliable receiver. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson has put up modest numbers since his return from a knee injury, but he’ll have to carry more of the load to keep the offense ahead of schedule. There’s more pressure on Wilson and a young defense led by rookie cornerback Sauce Garnder to keep the Jets in the playoff race.
There wasn’t a more shocking result on Sunday, and maybe this entire season, than the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss to the Panthers. Carolina had just fired coach Matt Rhule and traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, yet third-string quarterback P.J. Walker outplayed Tom Brady in an improbable win. Brady now has a losing record through his first seven games of a season for the first time since 2002 — his first full season as an NFL starter and the only healthy season of his career in which he did not make the playoffs. His decision to come back from a brief retirement looks more bewildering by the week. There’s still plenty of talent on this team, but it hasn’t been enough to prevent four losses in five games. Now safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a concussion, further depleting a banged-up secondary. A quick turnaround to play the Ravens on Thursday night couldn’t come at a worse time.
David Zalubowski
9. Miami Dolphins (4-3, No. 17)
10. New York Jets (5-2, No. 11)
11. Los Angeles Rams (3-3, No. 12)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, No. 9)
13. Tennessee Titans (4-2, No. 16)
From top to bottom, the AFC East has a pretty strong case to be the best division in football. The return of Tua Tagovailoa from a concussion helped the Dolphins secure a 16-10 win over the Steelers on Sunday night, but the third-year quarterback looked rusty, throwing four near-interceptions that Pittsburgh defenders dropped. It took three picks from the Miami secondary against rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett to salt this one away, as the Dolphins’ offense produced just 127 yards in the second half. A healthy Tagovailoa with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill remains a legitimate threat, but outside of an incredible fourth quarter against the Ravens way back in Week 2, it has been disappointing.
The Jets haven’t been dominant, but they’ve avoided turnovers and played sound defense on the way to four straight wins, the latest 16-9 over the Broncos and backup quarterback Brett Rypien. Sunday’s victory came at a cost, however, as star rookie running back Breece Hall (torn ACL) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) were both lost to season-ending injuries. Hall had been the engine of the Jets’ turnaround, averaging 5.8 yards per carry while being a reliable receiver. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson has put up modest numbers since his return from a knee injury, but he’ll have to carry more of the load to keep the offense ahead of schedule. There’s more pressure on Wilson and a young defense led by rookie cornerback Sauce Garnder to keep the Jets in the playoff race.
There wasn’t a more shocking result on Sunday, and maybe this entire season, than the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss to the Panthers. Carolina had just fired coach Matt Rhule and traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, yet third-string quarterback P.J. Walker outplayed Tom Brady in an improbable win. Brady now has a losing record through his first seven games of a season for the first time since 2002 — his first full season as an NFL starter and the only healthy season of his career in which he did not make the playoffs. His decision to come back from a brief retirement looks more bewildering by the week. There’s still plenty of talent on this team, but it hasn’t been enough to prevent four losses in five games. Now safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a concussion, further depleting a banged-up secondary. A quick turnaround to play the Ravens on Thursday night couldn’t come at a worse time.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Kyusung Gong
14. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, No. 19)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, No. 6)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, No. 23)
17. San Francisco 49ers (3-4, No. 14)
18. Green Bay Packers (3-4, No. 13)
19. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4, No. 24)
20. Washington Commanders (3-4, No. 29)
21. Chicago Bears (3-4, No. 30)
22. New England Patriots (3-4, No. 15)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, No. 21)
Through the first seven weeks, the best rookie class in the league belongs to Seattle. Running back Kenneth Walker broke out with 168 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers, just the latest standout performance from a 2022 draft pick on this roster. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been rock-solid offensive tackles. Cornerback Tariq Woolen is tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Cornerback Coby Bryant and edge rusher Boye Mafe have been valuable contributors. Journeyman quarterback Geno Smith has been a revelation, perhaps earning himself a long-term deal with the franchise. Seattle is in first place in the vaunted NFC West, and it doesn’t feel like a fluke.
Is it time to panic in Green Bay? With a 23-21 defeat to Washington, the Packers have lost three straight for the first time since 2018, and the offense looks completely broken. Running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who were meant to be the engine of this offense as a group of young receivers got up to speed, combined for just 38 yards on 12 carries against one of the league’s worst run defenses. Aaron Rodgers looks more like a 38-year-old quarterback on his last legs than a two-time reigning Most Valuable Player; he didn’t attempt a pass more than 10 yards in the air until the final two minutes of the first half Sunday. The defense isn’t living up to high expectations either, allowing backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to throw two touchdown passes and giving up 166 rushing yards. There’s still plenty of time for coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers to turn this season around, but it’s going to take some heavy lifting.
Kyusung Gong
14. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, No. 19)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, No. 6)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, No. 23)
17. San Francisco 49ers (3-4, No. 14)
18. Green Bay Packers (3-4, No. 13)
19. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4, No. 24)
20. Washington Commanders (3-4, No. 29)
21. Chicago Bears (3-4, No. 30)
22. New England Patriots (3-4, No. 15)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, No. 21)
Through the first seven weeks, the best rookie class in the league belongs to Seattle. Running back Kenneth Walker broke out with 168 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers, just the latest standout performance from a 2022 draft pick on this roster. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been rock-solid offensive tackles. Cornerback Tariq Woolen is tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Cornerback Coby Bryant and edge rusher Boye Mafe have been valuable contributors. Journeyman quarterback Geno Smith has been a revelation, perhaps earning himself a long-term deal with the franchise. Seattle is in first place in the vaunted NFC West, and it doesn’t feel like a fluke.
Is it time to panic in Green Bay? With a 23-21 defeat to Washington, the Packers have lost three straight for the first time since 2018, and the offense looks completely broken. Running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who were meant to be the engine of this offense as a group of young receivers got up to speed, combined for just 38 yards on 12 carries against one of the league’s worst run defenses. Aaron Rodgers looks more like a 38-year-old quarterback on his last legs than a two-time reigning Most Valuable Player; he didn’t attempt a pass more than 10 yards in the air until the final two minutes of the first half Sunday. The defense isn’t living up to high expectations either, allowing backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to throw two touchdown passes and giving up 166 rushing yards. There’s still plenty of time for coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers to turn this season around, but it’s going to take some heavy lifting.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Nick Wass
24. Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1, No. 20)
25. Atlanta Falcons (3-4, No. 18)
26. Cleveland Browns (2-5, No. 25)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5, No. 22)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5, No. 26)
29. Carolina Panthers (2-5, No. 32)
30. New Orleans Saints (2-5, No. 27)
31. Detroit Lions (1-5, No. 28)
32. Houston Texans (1-4-1, No. 31)
After a frustrating loss to the Ravens in which an officiating controversy might have cost them a chance to tie the game, the Browns are left to wonder where exactly this season — and maybe this entire franchise — is heading. They traded a boatload of draft picks, including three first-rounders, for quarterback Deshaun Watson and gave him $230 million guaranteed despite the former Texans star being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by more than two dozen women. When he does eventually return to the field after his 11-game suspension, the Browns might be completely out of playoff contention. Team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam made it clear where they stood on the accusations against Watson when they made the deal, choosing to look the other way in favor of Watson’s star power. No contrived statements or charitable donations can wash away the callousness of that move, and now they’re left with a losing team. Things might only get worse from here, both on and off the field.
Nick Wass
24. Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1, No. 20)
25. Atlanta Falcons (3-4, No. 18)
26. Cleveland Browns (2-5, No. 25)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5, No. 22)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5, No. 26)
29. Carolina Panthers (2-5, No. 32)
30. New Orleans Saints (2-5, No. 27)
31. Detroit Lions (1-5, No. 28)
32. Houston Texans (1-4-1, No. 31)
After a frustrating loss to the Ravens in which an officiating controversy might have cost them a chance to tie the game, the Browns are left to wonder where exactly this season — and maybe this entire franchise — is heading. They traded a boatload of draft picks, including three first-rounders, for quarterback Deshaun Watson and gave him $230 million guaranteed despite the former Texans star being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by more than two dozen women. When he does eventually return to the field after his 11-game suspension, the Browns might be completely out of playoff contention. Team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam made it clear where they stood on the accusations against Watson when they made the deal, choosing to look the other way in favor of Watson’s star power. No contrived statements or charitable donations can wash away the callousness of that move, and now they’re left with a losing team. Things might only get worse from here, both on and off the field.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Stew Milne
FILE - Chicago Bears defensive end Robert Quinn (94) rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn from the Bears on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the teams haven’t officially announced the move. Chicago gets a fourth-round pick in return. The NFL Network and ESPN first reported the trade. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
Stew Milne
FILE - Chicago Bears defensive end Robert Quinn (94) rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn from the Bears on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the teams haven’t officially announced the move. Chicago gets a fourth-round pick in return. The NFL Network and ESPN first reported the trade. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
