Yannick Ngakoue out for the rest of the 2023 season with a broken ankle

Just when things seemed to be going right for the Chicago Bears, coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday that defensive end Yannick Ngakoue will miss the remainder of the 2023 season due to a broken ankle.

Ngakoue will undergo surgery to repair the break.

Yannick Ngakoue broke his ankle and is headed to IR with a season-ending injury, per Matt Eberflus.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) December 13, 2023

Eberflus said he wasn’t sure of the exact moment the injury occurred. It looked like Ngakoue got hurt with about seven minutes left to play in the game on a run by Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery.

Ngakoue walked off the field, which squashed concerns about a significant injury. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a season-ender.

Yannick Ngakoue’s last snap was with 7:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Tremaine Edmunds falls on Ngakoue’s left ankle on this second-and-5 play. The #Bears” defense end immediately grabs at his ankle and is in clear pain. pic.twitter.com/3Hpj0J2muO

— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) December 13, 2023

Ngakoue joined the Bears on a one-year deal on the eve of the 2023 season. He started all 13 games this year and was beginning to turn the corner as a pass rusher with the addition of Montez Sweat opposite him.

Yannick Ngakoue’s season ends with four sacks, seven QB hits, and 22 tackles.

As for how the Chicago Bears” defense will make up for Ngakoue’s absence?

“Blitz every snap,” Eberflus joked.