LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- A month ago, linebacker Alec Ogletree arrived to town for a visit. He hasn't left since.
Ogletree, 29, was in the Chicagoland area visiting close friend and Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn when his agent called. Ogletree was at Halas Hall as Quinn watched his sister, Puerto Rican track and field hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, run in the Olympics. Ogletree's agent told him to stay put because the Bears wanted to sign him.
A month later, Ogletree not only made the Bears' active roster, but he's set to start to open the regular season.
"It’s been a journey for sure," Ogletree said. "I’ve been blessed enough to make it to my ninth year in the league, and it hasn’t all been smooth for sure, but I am here now, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be here and get a chance to play."
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Looking to add some veteran experience at inside linebacker, the Bears signed Ogletree on Aug. 4. Since then, he has been a standout during training camp and in preseason games, earning his place with the team.
Ogletree's opportunity increased earlier this week when the Bears placed veteran linebacker Danny Trevathan on injured reserve to open the season. Trevathan had been hampered by a knee issue, and the Bears wanted to take advantage of the new rules that require only a three-week minimum stay on injured reserve.
"He’s had a knee that’s kind of been bothersome this camp," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said. "Our plan, especially with these IR rules being pretty flexible for us, is to go ahead and get him on there and let him kind of take his time, make sure he’s 100% before we put him out there. We’re just kind of working through that, ake sure we get him 100%. It’s what is best for him. It’s what is best for us."
With Trevathan set to miss at least three games, the next man up at inside linebacker is Ogletree, a first-round pick of the Rams in 2013 who's entering his ninth year in the NFL. He played just two games with the Jets in 2020 and hasn't played a full 16-game season since 2016. Still, the Bears believe in Ogletree's veteran experience as well as his knack for finding the football.
"He took advantage of an opportunity," coach Matt Nagy said. "He’s moved around really well. He’s taken to the defense. I think you see that and you understand that we appreciate that from him. He took advantage of a great opportunity."
After establishing himself with the Bears, Ogletree has now encountered a new challenge -- settling into a home after living out of a suitcase in recent weeks.
Ogletree's chance with the Bears arrived suddenly, and he embraced it. Part of that mentality is understanding where he was just a month ago.
"I just try to cherish the opportunity to be in this league because I was on the outside looking in," Ogletree said. "You see a lot of guys that struggle on the outside, and for me to be able to have a better opportunity to come back into this league and play and do what I love to do, I just try to take it day by day and enjoy the moment of being here with the guys and being able to do what I love."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.