The dog days of training camp have hit the Chicago Bears pretty badly. They've struggled to stay healthy over the past couple of weeks, so it was about time they finally got some good news on the injury front.
Veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards is finally back on the field and taking part in team drills. He suffered a season-ending fractured fibula in the Wild Card win over the Chicago Bears to cap off an injury-riddled season.
According to Bears insider Adam Hoge, Edwards had 'his most intense practice,' so he's clearly trending in the right direction ahead of the preseason opener. Of course, he's highly unlikely to suit up for that game.
T.J. Edwards will be back with the Bears for Week 1
Edwards was always expected to be back to full strength for the season opener. Even so, given his recent history of injuries, having some confirmation and watching him practice like he hasn't missed a beat is obviously a big win.
The Bears had to cut ties with Tremaine Edmunds as a salary-cap casualty. As such, Edwards' presence in the middle can be even more important next season. He can be a perfect complement to the offseason acquisition Devin Bush, who's coming off a career-best season.
Edwards only suited up for 10 games last season, but he still managed to put up 67 total tackles, five passes defensed, and one pick-six. He was a tackling machine in the previous two seasons, piling up 137 in 2023 and 119 in 2024.
The Bears' offense should rank near the top in almost every category in the second year of the Ben Johnson era, but expectations are much different for the defense. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's seat might be lukewarm right now, and he'll need his top guys to be healthy, first and foremost.
Injuries have been a talking point in the Windy City recently, and this team certainly cannot afford to fall behind early on in the season. Not only will that fuel unwanted 'one-year wonder' narratives and regression talk, but it can also seal their fate in the uber-competitive NFC North.
The Bears will likely err on the side of caution with Edwards and every other guy returning from injury, as they should, and the starter may barely play in the next couple of weeks. But barring a setback, it looks like T.J. Edwards will be out there roaming free in the second level of the defense.
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