Quite the conundrum the Chicago Bears find themselves in entering their critical Week 12 showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chicago's final Week 12 injury report revealed that their top three linebackers, Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, and Noah Sewell, will all be out for the game with injuries. That leaves the starters to be fourth-year linebacker D'Marco Jackson and rookie fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II.
It's an opportunity for not only Hyppolite to prove himself to be an NFL linebacker, but this will be Jackson's first career start in the NFL after 36 career games played. This is a bigger deal for a veteran trying to prove to the league himself that he belongs.
Dennis Allen's past draft pick can prove he was right to take a chance on him
Back in 2022, current Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen used one of his draft picks as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints on Jackson in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Jackson built a quiet first two-season career in New Orleans as a special teams ace and backup on defense.
In Jackson's second season in 2023, after spending his rookie year on IR, he made one highlight play as he returned a fumble eight yards for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. He racked up 26 tackles, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown in his first three seasons in New Orleans before being a free agent last offseason.
Allen brought Jackson with him to Chicago to once again serve as a backup on defense and a special-teams ace. Through nine games this year, Jackson has 11 tackles, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery.
With Jackson being the more veteran player at linebacker over Hyppolite, he will be the man the Bears' defense is looking at to make sure everything is organized. Jackson knows Allen's defensive scheme well, having been in it for four years.
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What an opportunity it will be for Jackson to show Bears fans what he can deliver. This could be the breakout game that earns him more playing time on defense.