In doing so, the Bears opened up around $2 million in cap space for 2019, but it came at the cost of losing one of the organization's most popular players.
The 30-year-old Acho played in just four games last season before suffering a season-ending torn pectoral. He landed on injured reserve the rest of the year. He was among the longest-tenured Bears, having been signed by the team in 2015.
Off the field, Acho helped form the Bears' social justice initiatives, a player-led movement raising money for local causes in the Chicago community. Acho was the Bears' nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2016 and 2017, in large part for his work in Africa with his family foundation, Living Hope Christian Ministries. The Bears re-signed Acho last March as he was on a tour of a state prison in Louisiana with team chairman George McCaskey.
The Bears already released tight end Dion Sims in February, a move that opened up $6 million in cap space. They will also officially release kicker Cody Parkey at the start of the league new year on March 13, though he's due $3.5 million for 2019.