The Chicago Bears has three second-round picks this year, which was it's own thing with the delay in signings as a template for fully guaranteed deals was set by a couple teams. But two of them have been signed and getting noticed on the practice field during training camp, while the third has been unable to practice due to an injury.
Defensive tackle Shemar Turner suffered a sprained ankle during the first practice of training camp, and he has been out since. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune first reported he was expected to be out for a least a month, which would obviously cause him to miss all of training camp as well as all three preseason games. Not to mention hampering his ability to make a notable contribution early in his rookie season due to all of that missed time.
Since that immediate news, for better or worse, there had been no updates on Turner.
The Bears welcomed the Buffalo Bills to Halas Hall for a joint practice session on Friday, before the preseason game between the two teams on Sunday night.
Bears reporters immediately spotted Turner, in full uniform, on the practice field as the session got going.
Bears rookie DT Shemar Turner is suited up for practice for the first time since Day 1 of camp.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) August 15, 2025
#Bears second round pick Shemar Turner is back on the field for the first time since the first day of training camp. He’s fully dressed and stretching.
— Michal Dwojak (@mdwojak94) August 15, 2025
#Bears 2nd round pick Shemar Turner (ankle) is on the practice field this morning for the first time since the opening practice of camp. We will see what the DT does today. A good sign.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 15, 2025
Fans are in attendance for the joint practice, so we also have some initial visual evidence of Turner's presence (he's No. 95 in the photo below).
Shemar Turner is in pads! pic.twitter.com/zZmsXVrend
— Gary Ross (@gaross18) August 15, 2025
Shemar Turner's early return to practice is a great thing for him and the Bears' DL
Based on Biggs' initial report, Turner is back on the practice field about a week earlier than the timeframe the Bears were preparing themselves for when he was first injured on July 23. He will certainly be eased into action to ensure he doesn't have a setback with an injury that can easily be aggravated, It's unlikely he will play against the Bills, but maybe he'll get some action in the final preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
A potential worst-case scenario that was vaguely out there for Turner, an IR stint to start the season--which would've cost him at least the first four games, is apparently no longer a thing.
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The Bears efforted to fortify their interior defensive line after struggling to stop the run last season. Turner was of course a key piece of that idea, with the investment of a second-round pick, and his faster than expected return to practice is a very good thing.