The Packers loss is the Bears’ gain.
In a move that figures to fortify their unsettled offensive line, the Bears have signed three-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton — a three-year deal worth more than $21 million, including $10 million guaranteed — one day after the Packers suddenly cut Sitton in an apparent salary-cap move.
Sitton, who turned 30 in June, had started at either guard position for the Packers for the last seven seasons. After signing a four-year, $33.75 million extension in 2011, he started 88-of-90 games over the next five seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He was a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press last season.
But he was entering the final year of his contract, with a cap hit of $6.85 million and with three Pro Bowls on his resume likely was going to be costly for the Packers to re-sign.
With Sitton and Kyle Long, the Bears have starting guards with a combined six Pro Bowl berths in the NFL. Rookie Cody Whitehair, the current starter at left guard, could be moved to center to battle Ted Larsen for the starting job. But with Sitton the Bears have more options than they did.
