Freeman announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday via his personal Twitter account.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman, who was released by the Bears in February, spent six years in the NFL and produced 598 tackles, 20 sacks and eight forced fumbles in 70 career games. His relatively short tenure was due to his late entrance into the league, as Freeman spent three years in the Canadian Football League after going undrafted out of Division III's Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2008.

The Bears released Freeman (concussion/pectoral) on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman led the Bears in tackles in 2016 despite missing four games after violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy, but the inside linebacker endured a nightmarish 2017 campaign both on and off the field. The 31-year-old was lost for the season after tearing a pectoral muscle and suffering a concussion in the opener and was later busted for a second PED violation in October, netting him a 10-game suspension that will carry over for the first two weeks of the 2018. Shortly after the suspension, Freeman acknowledged that he's suffering from memory loss and is uncertain if he plans to continue his career. With the Bears unsurprising parting ways with the veteran, it's possible his time in the NFL could be over.

Freeman's (concussion/pecotoral) completed his 10-game suspension and was officially reinstated Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman received the 10-game ban in late October for a repeat violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy and was able to serve the suspension while he remained on injured reserve due to a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in addition to a concussion. Though Freeman is under contract with the Bears through 2018, there isn't any guaranteed money left on his deal. If the Bears elect to release Freeman this offseason, it's possible he has played his last NFL game, as the linebacker acknowledged shortly after the suspension was handed down that his career could be over following his latest head injury, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com.

Freeman (pectoral, concussion) has been suspended 10 games for a repeat violation of the NFL's policy on PEDs, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Already on injured reserve with a torn pectoral, Freeman won't get a paycheck for the final eight games of the season, and he'll then have to miss the first two games next year. This ends any chance he might've had to return from IR, and it could prompt the Bears to release him after the season.

The Bears placed Freeman (pectoral, concussion) on injured reserve Tuesday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman was diagnosed with both the pectoral and head injury following the Bears' Week 1 loss to the Falcons, but it was likely the former issue that resulted in his placement on IR. The loss of one of their defensive captains will be a difficult one for the Bears to overcome, as Nick Kwiatkoski, who mostly played on special teams in Week 1, is now in line to enter the starting lineup at linebacker in Freeman's stead.

Freeman (concussion) also suffered a pectoral injury during Sunday's loss to Atlanta, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman played 56 of 59 defensive snaps and finished with a team-high 10 tackles (seven solo), but he came out of the game with both a concussion and a pec injury. An absence could thrust Danny Trevathan into an every-down role, with Nick Kwiatkoski or Christian Jones replacing Freeman in the base defense.

Freeman entered the league's concussion protocol following Sunday's game, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman did not meet with the media following the loss so there is little public information known other than that he's in concussion protocol. We should get a clearer idea of how long he'll be sidelined for in the coming days.

Freeman tallied 10 tackles in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Vikings, and he finished the year with 110 tackles in 12 games played.

EDGE Analysis

In a season in which he lost four games to his suspension, Freeman finished the season strong by posting at least nine tackles in each of his last four games. He'll enter the second year of a four-year contract with the Bears in 2017, and he should continue to produce excellent tackle numbers, making him an elite IDP option at inside linebacker

Freeman recorded nine tackles in Sunday's 41-21 loss to Washington.

EDGE Analysis

In his return from a four-game suspension, Freeman recorded at least nine tackles for the fourth time in his last five games, and he'll continue to be a strong IDP option in Week 17 against the Vikings.

Freeman was activated from the exempt list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Freeman had been on the exempt list while he was serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's PED policy. The Bears waited a week to activate Freeman so that he could practice with the team and get back into the swing of things. He'll be active and expected to play in Saturday's game against Washington.