The Chicago Bears clearly still view T. J. Edwards as one of the leaders of their defense, regardless of when he is able to return to the field. Edwards suffered a fractured fibula and ankle injury during the Bears’ playoff win over the Green Bay Packers, but linebackers coach Richard Smith made it clear that Edwards will continue to play an important role within the defense while recovering.
The Chicago Bears value T.J. Edwards highly
Smith’s comments help answer some of the questions surrounding Edwards’ role moving forward. During the offseason, the Bears signed Devin Bush in free agency and also re-signed D'Marco Jackson. Those two are expected to handle starting responsibilities while Edwards continues to recover from his injury.
Because Bush received a notable contract and Jackson was brought back this offseason, there has been some speculation about whether the Bears could simply continue with those two if the defense performs well during Edwards’ absence. There is also the thought that Chicago may be more focused on the future with Jackson than they are with Edwards.
Still, Smith strongly suggested that Edwards is too important to the defense to be kept off the field once he is healthy. His versatility, intelligence, and experience appear to give him a secure role within the defense whenever he is ready to return.
That does not necessarily mean the Bears will immediately force him into a full workload, but it does indicate that the coaching staff still sees him as an important piece of the unit rather than simply depth behind the younger linebackers.
The bigger question may come after the season. Edwards is still under contract through next year, but his cap hit sits just above $10 million. If the Bears decide to move on, they could save more than $8 million in cap space.
That financial flexibility is part of why there were already questions about his future with the team. Between Bush, Jackson, Keyshawn Elliott, Ruben Hyppolite II, and Noah Sewell, the Bears have several linebackers already in place, including younger players the organization has invested in through the draft.
However, the way the coaching staff continues to talk about Edwards makes it sound like the Bears still value him beyond just this season. Leadership matters, especially on defense, and Smith’s comments reinforced that Edwards still carries significant respect within the organization.
If Edwards returns later this season and immediately steps back into a major role while producing at a high level, it could change how the Bears approach his future. Instead of viewing him strictly as an expensive veteran, the team may continue to see him as an important leader and stabilizing presence within the defense.
Because of that, there may be a better chance Edwards remains part of Chicago’s long-term plans than many people currently expect.
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