The Bears have released defensive tackle Matt Toeaina, the club said Tuesday. The move had been expected for some time.
Toeaina (6-2, 308) dealt with calf and knee injuries and appeared in just three games for the Bears in 2012 (two starts). He started 22 games the previous two seasons for Chicago.
Toeaina had right knee surgery after the season but believes he will be healthy no later than training camp, he told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.
Toeaina, 28, has played six NFL seasons, with all of his regular-season game action coming with Chicago, which signed him from the Bengals’ practice squad in 2007. A sixth-round pick in the 2007 draft, Toeaina played collegiately at Oregon.