Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards' 2025 season was an unusual one for the veteran linebacker.
He played in just 10 regular-season games because of a series of injuries. After playing just 12 snaps against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round, he fractured his fibula – ending his season.
The veteran linebacker finished with just 67 total tackles, three quarterback hits, 0.5 sacks, and an interception that he returned for a touchdown on the opening play against the San Francisco 49ers last season. Before 2025, Edwards had played in every game for the last three seasons. That's the type of consistency the 30-year-old linebacker has grown accustomed to in his career.
Bears need T.J. Edwards this season and a simple plan should be followed
His focus is on returning to that reliable form as he enters his eighth NFL season. He is still ramping up from a minor calf strain he sustained earlier this summer.
Edwards doesn't know when he will be considered a full go, since that is up to the Bears’ training staff, but he told reporters on Thursday following the joint practice against the Bengals that he is “feeling good.”
He also mentioned he can't have an injury-impacted year again and must be smart about his situation “because I'm not used to missing anything. So I'm not letting that happen here.”
Edwards can and should take his time before he is cleared for full contact. The Bears still have the players necessary to get quality looks while Edwards ramps up.
General manager Ryan Poles signed veteran Devin Bush to a three-year, $30 million contract. His speed has shown up consistently throughout training camp, giving defensive coordinator Dennis Allen another playmaker for his unit.
The Bears also made two key transactions this offseason. D'Marco Jackson signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal. He was productive last season while filling in for Edwards. In the Bears' dominant 31-3 win over the Cleveland Browns last season, Jackson secured seven total tackles, two passes defensed, one sack, and an interception.
Poles also brought back Jack Sanborn, who has played with the starting unit in its base defense throughout training camp.
The Bears have the depth on the roster to survive life without Edwards, a luxury that a lot of teams in the NFL don't have at the linebacker position.
Read more: Bears defender had Ja'Marr Chase 'fuming' after joint practice with Bengals
Allen's defense will welcome Edwards back once he is a full go, but until then, the unit will rely on its linebacker depth to get quality looks, strengthening the entire room while giving Edwards time to fully recover.
Add us as a preferred source on Google