(via Tampa Bay Buccaneers Communications) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed defensive lineman Akiem Hicks.
Hicks (6-4, 352) comes to Tampa Bay after spending the previous six seasons as a member of the Chicago Bears (2016-21), which included a 2018 Pro Bowl selection. During his time in Chicago, Hicks started all 77 games in which he played, recording 247 tackles (51 for loss), 88 quarterback hits, 31.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Since he joined the Bears in 2016, Hicks ranks fifth among interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss (51), seventh in quarterback hits (88) and eighth in sacks (31.0).
Originally a third-round selection (No. 89 overall) by the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 NFL Draft, Hicks played for the Saints (2012-15) and the New England Patriots (2015) prior to signing with Chicago. Over 138 career games, including 110 starts, Hicks has tallied 387 tackles (73 for loss), 111 quarterback hits, 40.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. He has appeared in six career postseason games, recording 20 tackles (two for loss), four quarterback hits and a half-sack.
A native of Sacramento, California, Hicks played collegiately at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada.
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