The Bears have traded Allen to the Panthers in exchange for a conditional draft pick, NFL Network reports.

Allen, who has recorded five tackles and a sack in three games for the Bears to date, will bolster Carolina's pass rush in the wake of news that Charles Johnson is expected to miss multiple weeks.

Allen notched one tackle and an interception in Sunday's 48-23 win over the Cardinals.

Making just his second career start as a 3-4 outside linebacker, Allen adapted well to his new position for at least one play in Sunday's game, as he deflected a Carson Palmer pass up in the air and reeled it in for the turnover. However, the Bears are counting on Allen to make more of an impact as a pass rusher than in coverage, and he's failed to do that thus far. Though he was credited with two quarterback hits, Allen remains without a sack on the season, along with the rest of the Bears roster. The defense can't succeed unless Allen and fellow high-priced outside linebackers Pernell McPhee and Lamarr Houston start generating pressure with more frequency.

Allen will open the season in a starting role at outside linebacker, the Chicago Tribune reports.

After playing his entire career as a down lineman, Allen's transition to outside linebacker in coordinator Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense wasn't exactly seamless in training camp, but he performed well enough to hold off Lamarr Houston and Willie Young for one of the starting jobs. Fangio will likely scheme to avoid using Allen in coverage and instead deploy him primarily as a pass rusher, but it's hard to count on him to provide the same kind of double-digit sack production he offered in seasons past.

Allen (back) will convert to outside linebacker for the Bears during the upcoming season, the Chicago Tribune reports.

With Mel Tucker dismissed following last season's 5-11 debacle, the Bears' new regime opted for a complete overhaul on defense, bringing aboard former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to put a 3-4 scheme in place. A 4-3 defensive end throughout his career, Allen seems unlikely to be an every-down player at linebacker given his inexperience in coverage, which could lead Fangio to employ lots of sub packages. Allen's expected downgrade in snaps, along with his struggles to get after the passer in his natural down lineman position last season (a career-low 5.5 sacks), suggests the 33-year-old might be more likely to see his 2015 production decline further rather than bounce back.

Allen was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back after the end of the 2014 season, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Allen had a rough first season in Chicago, dealing with pneumonia, a rib injury and the back issue on his way to just 5.5 sacks. He should still be a key part of the defense in 2015, but with the Bears signing Pernell McPhee this offseason, Allen is in danger of losing some snaps.

Allen collected 55 tackles and 5.5 sacks while starting 15 games for the Bears in 2014.

Allen's sack total probably doesn't accurately reflect how much of an impact he made as a pass rusher, but he undoubtedly regressed in his first season in the Windy City. He failed to reach the double-digit mark in sacks for the first time since 2006, and a bout with pneumonia earlier in the season ended his run of 113 consecutive starts. He'll turn 33 years old next season, and while it wouldn't be a surprise if his stats rebounded at least a little bit in 2015, his days as a top-notch IDP option on the defensive line appear to be over.

Allen (ribs) is active for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Allen was only able to log a limited practice Friday this week due to the ailment, but he'll play in the regular-season finale looking to improve on his 5.5 sacks this season.

Allen (ribs) is questionable for Sunday's game against Minnesota.

Allen was able to practice just once this week, and that was a limited showing Friday, so there appears to be a good chance he misses this meaningless game. With just 5.5 sacks on the year, Allen isn't a trusted IDP, anyway.

Allen (ribs) was held out of Wednesday's practice, ESPN Chicago reports.

Allen's absence may have been more for rest purposes than anything, as the expectation is he'll be ready to go for the Week 17 matchup against the Vikings in his first game as a visitor against his former team. After recording just 1.5 sacks through the Bears' first nine games, Allen has accrued four over his last six contests, but it's been largely inconsequential with the Bears eliminated from the playoff race. Barring a massive performance in Week 17, Allen will finish the season with a sack total in the single digits for the first time since 2006.

Allen was credited with a half-sack and five total stops for the Bears in last Thursday's loss to the Cowboys.

Allen has been more disruptive over the last several weeks, but it's probably too little too late, as the Bears surely expected more than five sacks from him in 12 games. He's at least on pace to surpass the tackle totals he posted in each of the previous two seasons, though that probably amounts to little consolation for the Bears, who signed the defensive end to get after the quarterback.

Allen made five stops and registered a sack in the Bears' Week 11 victory over the Vikings.

Facing his former team for the first time since joining the Bears as a free agent in March, Allen turned in one of his best performances of the season, though that wasn't exactly a high bar to cross. Allen has only 2.5 sacks over nine games this season, well short of the 11.5 he posted with the Viking in 2013.

Allen logged five tackles but didn't register a sack in Sunday's 51-23 loss to the Patriots.

Allen was paid big money in the offseason by the Bears specifically to make like difficult for immobile pocket passers like the Patriots' Tom Brady, but he failed in that capacity Sunday, not even logging a single hit on the quarterback. With just 1.5 sacks at the season's halfway point, Allen is on track to fall short of reaching double digits in that category for the first time since 2006.

Allen contributed two tackles and a sack in Sunday's win over the Falcons.

Though it took him five games to do it, Allen finally has his first sack as a member of the Bears. With Allen now over two weeks removed from the bout with pneumonia that resulted in him losing significant weight, expect him to be a more active force on the pass rush in the weeks to come.

After missing the previous week due to a bout with pneumonia, Allen returned to action Sunday against the Panthers, amassing a team-leading seven tackles and defensing one pass in the defeat.

It's something of a surprise that Allen was not only active Sunday, but also an effective contributor after losing considerable weight due to the illness. Though Allen has produced seven tackles in each of the last two games he's played, his donut in the sack column is not what his owners in IDP leagues signed up for. He's shown flashes of his familiar pass-rushing skills the last couple of weeks, but until his disruption translates into sacks, it will be difficult to wring much fantasy utility from Allen.

Allen (illness) is active for Sunday's game at Carolina.

Allen, who has been very sick, will play and will be looking to notch his first sack of the year.

Allen (illness) is probable for Sunday's game against Carolina, ESPN's Michael C. Wright reports.

Despite losing a significant amount of weight a week ago due to pneumonia, Allen is evidently locked into the lineup for Sunday. He's probably not an advised starting IDP consideration until he shows he's back in football shape, though.

Allen (illness) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, the Bears' official site reports.

After a bout with pneumonia, which brought to a close a run of 113 consecutive starts, Allen's presence at practice is encouraging, no matter his activity level. He must build up his strength in the coming days and weeks, though, which could hinder his ability to return Sunday at Carolina. As a result, IDP owners should keep a close eye on the pass rusher as the weekend approaches.

Allen (illness) was able to get in a workout Monday, ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson reports.

After seeing his streak of 113 consecutive starts come to an end in Sunday's loss to the Packers, Allen looks to be on the road to recovery following a nasty bout with pneumonia. Allen will still have to regain a considerable amount of weight after the illness severely weakened him, putting his status in limbo for Week 5.

Allen's illness is actually pneumonia, Fox's Jay Glazer reports.

Allen has lost a considerable amount of weight this week as a result of the illness.

Allen (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers, Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago reports.

Allen was held out of practice all week while he dealt with the flu, and he apparent wasn't able to recuperate quickly enough for the team to feel comfortable using him Sunday. With Allen missing his first game since the 2007 season, Willie Young will step in to make his first start of the season at defensive end. Though Allen gets top billing on the team's defensive line as a perennial Pro Bowler, Young has actually been the Bears' best pass rusher this season, amassing four sacks in the first three games.