Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards underwent surgery on a broken hand this week, head coach Ben Johnson announced (via Courtney Cronin of ESPN). While the Bears have already ruled Edwards out for Sunday’s game against the Giants, they are not planning to place him on injured reserve.
An IR stint would require at least a four-game absence, though the Bears are optimistic Edwards will return before then. He’ll play with a clubbed cast on his hand when he comes back.
The Bears have already placed four other defenders – cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, tackle Shemar Turner, and end Dayo Odeyingbo – on IR since late September. Thanks in part to their injury problems, the Bears rank 26th in total defense and 29th in points per game allowed.
Edwards, a 2019 undrafted free agent, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles before inking a three-year, $19.5MM deal with the Bears in 2023. After back-to-back 17-start, 100-tackle seasons in Chicago, the team signed the former Wisconsin Badger to a two-year, $20MM extension last spring. However, multiple injuries have shelved Edwards in 2025.
A hamstring issue kept Edwards from playing in three of the 5-3 Bears’ first eight games. Edwards’ hamstring has bothered him all season, though he has nonetheless piled up 31 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance an impressive 12th among 78 qualifying linebackers.
With Edwards unable to play in Week 10, Noah Sewell will fill in alongside Tremaine Edmunds to comprise the Bears’ top LB duo. Sewell, a third-year man, has logged the first five starts of his career this season. He has amassed 39 tackles, though PFF hasn’t been enamored of his work, ranking him 58th at the position. Rookie fourth-rounder Ruben Hyppolite, a healthy scratch in four games this year, is next on the depth chart. Hyppolite has totaled just 18 defensive snaps.
I remember well how effective Deacon Jones was back in the day with his arm cast. Perhaps Edwards can watch some old Rams highlights to get some pointers.
Bears aren’t as good as their record indicates. The defense is bad with very little pass rush. Williams hasn’t figured out how to throw a TD in the red zone. They’ve also played a weak schedule. Big contracts to players who aren’t performing.