The tattered Chicago Bears defense has found some help that knows the scheme and has Pro Bowl experience.

The team signed veteran linebacker Cato June to a one-year contract today, giving it a chance to evaluate him over the final five games of the season and perhaps work to sign the 30-year-old moving to next season.

June was just cleared medically to return to action last week. He suffered a broken forearm with Houston in a preseason scrimmage vs. New Orleans, and received an injury settlement from the Texans. June required surgery to insert a plate into his forearm. He takes the place of veteran linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who was lost for the season with a knee injury on Oct. 18 at Atlanta, but had yet to be placed on injured reserve.

June led the Colts in tackles in 2006 when they defeated the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. He played in Tampa the last two seasons, so his NFL career has been spent playing in the Tampa Two scheme. A weak-side linebacker in Indianapolis, he got experience playing the strong side for the Bucs. The Bears are using Nick Roach at that position right now, but June might get a look down the stretch. Otherwise, the Bears don’t have much of a way to evaluate him.

Also, the team released defensive end Joe Clermond from the practice squad, according to a league source.

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