NFL: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears preseason sack leader exits game with knee injury

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 12:43 AM ET

The Chicago Bears pummeled the reserves of the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field on Sunday night, but they did so at the expense of a couple of key depth pieces on the defense.

Not long after the Bears lost cornerback Terell Smith to what appears to be a serious non-contract injury, Chicago had an announcement to make on their preseason sack leader.

Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears ruled out defensive end Austin Booker due to a knee injury.

“Bears rule DE Austin Booker out for the remainder of the game. He has a knee injury,” Biggs posted on X.

#Bears rule DE Austin Booker out for the remainder of the game. He has a knee injury.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 18, 2025

Chicago Bears DE has an injury

It’s unclear how serious the knee injury is or on what play the issue occurred.

The second-year defensive end exited the game after recording two tackles and one sack. He had three sacks in the Bears’ 24-24 tie with the Miami Dolphins last week. Booker’s four sacks in six quarters were the most sacks by any player in the league during the preseason.

Booker played in 17 games for the Bears in 2024. The 2024 fifth-round pick recorded 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Chicago was counting on Booker to have a larger role in Year 2 under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. The Bears need depth at pass rusher behind Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo.

NFL: London Games Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) leaves the field after an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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