Mike

Pennel

Pennel totaled four tackles for the Chiefs last year but appeared in only three regular season games. Pennel played in all four playoff contests and combined for six tackles in the Super Bowl. A familiar face who was also with the team in 2019 and 2020, Pennel, 32, should make for nice depth along the defensive line next season.

The Chiefs were already set to be without DT Derrick Nnadi on Sunday but fellow DT Charles Omenihu was also listed as questionable with an illness. While there is optimism that Omenihu will be able to play, the Chiefs are clearly looking to add more depth in the interior since both Nnadi and Omenihu each played over 50 percent of the team’s snaps in the first game against the Bills.

The 31-year-old rotational lineman played 37% of the defensive snaps across 10 games for Atlanta last season. To make room, the Bears cut veteran EDGE Jeremiah Attaochu.

Pennel made an appearance in 14 games for the Chiefs last year but failed to survive beyond Chicago’s second preseason game. He’s totaled one sack and two tackles for loss in the past four seasons.

Pennel was a rotational run-stuffer for the Chiefs last year, picking up one start in 14 games after serving a two-game suspension. With one sack and two TFLs in the past four years, Pennel will play primarily on early downs with the Bears. The signing could be a tell that there’s some type of rift between defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and Chicago. Goldman was absent from minicamp and Bears coach Matt Nagy noted that his absence was unexcused.

The reason is unclear. Pennel has two previous bans for violating the substance-abuse policy. The 29-year-old is a rotational run stuffer for the Super Bowl champs.

Pennel wanted to defend his Super Bowl win with Kansas City despite having other offers. In 2019, Pennel appeared in eight regular season games and made 24 tackles as an interior defensive lineman. He’ll be a run-stuffer going into his age-29 season.

The Cowboys already signed Gerald McCoy, but it sounds like they aren’t done addressing the interior of their defensive line just yet. None of these veteran DTs are likely to garner a long-term deal in Dallas, although a hefty one-year contract could certainly be in play. Suh and Poe are the team’s best bets for finding a three-down difference-making talent, as both Harrison and Pennel are better used as two-down players at this point in their respective careers.

Pennel was last seen with the Jets in 2018 as well as with the Patriots during the 2019 preseason. The Chiefs released DT Terrell McClain in a corresponding roster move.

He was competing for a role on the interior but ultimately lost out to Danny Shelton. It’s surprising to see the Patriots throw in the towel this quickly after signing Pennel to a two-year, $8 million contract earlier this offseason. The veteran run-plugger amassed 27 tackles over 358 defensive snaps as a Jet last season.