The Chicago Bears have vacancies at linebacker and Sunday the team made a move to fill one of the spots.
Former Carolina Panthers linebacker James Anderson agreed to a one-year contract with the Bears, according to a report on the team’s website.
Anderson is the second free-agent linebacker the Bears have landed this week. On Friday, they added former Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams.
The openings were created after the Bears lost linebackers Nick Roach and Geno Hayes in free agency and parted ways with longtime middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Anderson started 12 games in 2012 for the Panthers and finished third on the team in tackles with 84, including a franchise-record 20 in a September game against the New York Giants. He was sidelined for the last four games of the season with a back injury.
The Panthers released Anderson as a cost-savings move with three years left on a five-year, $22 million contract he signed in 2011.