During Week 2 of OTAs, Caleb Williams attempted to hit Devin Duvernay in the middle of the field in an early portion of 11-on-11s. The Bears’ quarterback fired the ball to his intended target, but the pass never found Devernay’s hands.
The ball was caught, though, but it was Tremaine Edmunds who dove for the football to come away with the interception.
Later on in the practice during 7-on-7s, Edmunds made another play on a ball thrown in the middle of the field. Williams tried connecting with Rome Odunze, but Edmunds extended his right arm into the air and hit the ball, deflecting it to Jaquan Brisker for the interception.
.@JaquanBrisker is SO back 🏹 pic.twitter.com/Le8gK9ucOd
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 29, 2025
Edmunds produced impactful plays during the Thursday practice in Week 2 of OTAs, and that’s exactly what the Bears need from him throughout the regular season.
Edmunds ready for massive 2025 season
When it comes to preparing himself for his eighth season in the NFL, Edmunds has a few areas of his game that he would like to continue improving during the offseason.
“I think just anytime you're at the MIKE position, I think just making sure communication is always good, execution is always good,” Edmunds said. “Obviously, there's little things here and there that I sit down with myself and I go over through things. I have my own checklist, but I think overall big picture, it's really just *snap* communication, playing fast, execution, and making plays at the end of the day, man. This league’s about making plays and game-changing plays. So I think that's number one for sure.”
It makes sense that Edmunds has the game-changing plays high on his checklist, especially since that’s what the 6-foot-5, 250-pound linebacker is being paid to do. Amongst linebackers, Edmunds is paid the third-highest in average annual salary ($18 million), which is only behind Fred Warner and Roquan Smith. Edmunds’ $50 million in guaranteed money is also the third most for all linebackers.
Edmunds played in all 17 games in his second season with the Bears in 2024 and registered 110 total tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, an interception and eight passes defensed. Outside of sacks and forced fumbles, Edmunds’ stats decreased from his 2023 season.
That can’t happen for a second season in a row. Edmunds needs to become the player that general manager Ryan Poles signed him to become. One person who will play an influential part in making that happen is defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
“Obviously a guy that had success in the league over in New Orleans,” Edmunds said. “They had a lot of good years, good defenses, and, like I said, just his energy, man, and what he demands from his players. I think that's the number one thing that sticks out. Obviously he holds the guys accountable. You can see that at an early stage. If we're messing up on something, got to call you out for it, but it's a good call out, you know what I mean? It keeps everybody on their toes, keeps everybody responsible as far as getting that playbook and, like I said, man, just his energy on the field. You definitely feel that.”
Edmunds is also feeling the benefits of playing both the Mike and Will linebacker positions, which he says, “Adds value to you as a player and obviously you develop a different sense, like different knowledge of the game.”
If Edmunds continues to make plays like he did in OTAs and it translates to the regular season, then it’s safe to say the position flexibility was a positive change for the veteran linebacker. But for now, Edmunds must wait to continue building what he started in the offseason training program.
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Training camp will be the next testing ground for Edmunds, and then there is, of course, Week 1’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
“I’m looking at the first game of the year. I’m fired up about it. Any time you can open up the season at your house, prime time. I can’t look past that. That’s a big game, you know what I mean? We’ve just got to take it a day at a time. I think that’s going to be good opening up in front of our fans. That type of atmosphere, it’s going to be special. Division game, that’s the kind of stuff you play for. It’s going to be special, like I said. That’s a long ways away, though. We’ve got a lot of work to get there for sure."