The Bears are releasing left tackle Charles Leno, sources confirmed Monday, just days after the team appeared to draft his replacement.
The Bears can save more than $9 million in salary cap space by cutting Leno with a post-June 1 designation. The team needs that money; they had the smallest amount in salary cap space in the NFL entering the draft.
The Bears traded up to take Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins in the second round (39th overall) Friday. General manager Ryan Pace said at the time that Jenkins could play either left or right tackle. Saturday night, when asked directly about Leno’s future, Pace refused to comment.