Free-agent linebacker Chase Winovich announced his retirement from professional football on Tuesday after five years in the NFL. Winovich starred as a defensive end and linebacker at Michigan and made two All-Big Ten teams in 2017 and 2018 before being taken in the third round of the 2019 draft by the New England Patriots. He led the Patriots in sacks with 5.5 in 2020 while starting nine games that year. The 28-year-old played three seasons in New England before being traded to the Cleveland Browns before last season. He appeared in three games with Miami this year before being released last week. Winovich finishes his NFL career with 107 tackles (71 solo), 12 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 26 QB hits, one interception and a forced fumble in 56 games (11 starts).
The Houston Texans agreed with free-agent defensive end Chase Winovich on a one-year, $2 million deal on Monday. After three years with the New England Patriots to begin his NFL career, Winovich spent last season with the Cleveland Browns, where he recorded 20 tackles (14 solo), one sack and a pass defensed in only eight games (two starts). The 27-year-old former third-round pick by the Patriots in 2019 has 105 tackles (70 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 26 QB hits, one interception, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and 12 sacks in four NFL seasons and 53 games (11 starts). Fantasy managers can ignore him in IDP leagues.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Chase Winovich (hamstring) has been activated from the injured reserve. The 27-year-old will be able to play for the first time since Week 2. He was traded to the Browns in March, but hasn't been able to make much of an impact. Before joining the Browns, Winovich put together some decent performances as a rotational player with the New England Patriots. The return of WInovich should give the Browns defense a slight boost.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Chase Winovich, who was acquired from the New England Patriots this offseason, gained 10 to 15 pounds this offseason as he transitions to defensive end on a four-man defensive front. "It's the heaviest I've weighed in probably three years, the strongest I've probably ever been," Winovich said, "so I have a lot to be optimistic about, and I'm really looking forward to it." The 27-year-old pass-rusher will be looking to bounce back in 2022 after a decreased role last season with the Pats, when he had only 11 tackles (six solo) in 13 games (zero starts) for New England. In his three NFL seasons with the Patriots, Winovich has 85 tackles (56 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 23 QB hits, 11 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.
The Cleveland Browns acquired outside linebacker Chase Winovich from the New England Patriots on Tuesday in exchange for linebacker Mack Wilson, according to sources. Both players mostly served as backups in 2021. Winovich failed to record a sack and played just 13.5% of the Patriots defensive snaps in 13 total games. The 26-year-old had 11 sacks in his first two NFL seasons in 2019 and 2020, though, so the Browns will be hoping to get that version of Winovich. Wilson had 42 tackles (26 solo) in 14 games (six starts) for Cleveland last year. He has only one sack in three NFL seasons, but he's tacked on 163 tackles (107 solo), five tackles for loss, one interception, nine passes defensed and one forced fumble in 43 games (28 starts).
The New England Patriots placed linebacker Chase Winovich (hamstring) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. Winovich injured his hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and will now miss at least the next three weeks. He hasn't been a big part of New England's defense, playing just 19% of the snaps, but he's contributed more frequently on special teams. The 26-year-old has recorded seven tackles (four solo) and a QB hit in six games on the season. Defensive back Myles Bryant was signed to the active roster off the practice squad to take Winovich's spot on the roster.
Chase Winovich Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp
New England Patriots linebacker Chase Winovich underwent surgery on his hernia in February. The former third round pick is expected to be ready to roll whenever football activities begin. He recorded 26 total tackles, 10 quarterback hits, and 5.5 sacks through 16 games last season. The rookie linebacker showed plenty of promise, so the Pats are likely going to give him a bigger role in 2020. Winovich expects to be fully functional by the start of September.
