One of the more interesting questions this offseason is how the Chicago Bears will utilize their linebackers in the second season with Dennis Allen as the defensive coordinator. However, the team has not been able to fully unleash their plan because starting linebacker T.J. Edwards started the year on the Non-football Injury list.
Edwards fractured his leg last year, but reports were that he was healthy this offseason and that the injury he entered training camp with was unrelated. After missing the first week or so of practice, Edwards has officially been removed from the NFI list, and he participated in Bears practice.
T.J. Edwards has been activated off the Active/Non-Football Injury list
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 5, 2026
Chicago Bears Linebacker Competition Fully Begins With TJ Edwards
Now that Edwards is back, there are a lot of questions about his role and fit within the defense. The Bears went out and paid Devin Bush significant money. The two are making the same amount per year, but the Bears have Bush signed for longer now.
Allen sought Bush out and signed him, while he inherited Bush. So, it is worth wondering who the actual top linebacker is. When the team goes into dime snaps, who is the only one out there? This will be confirmed by who wears the green dot on their helmet. This signals the play-calling duties and the trust from Allen to get the defense before the snap.
Edwards has taken this role in the past, but Bush could be taking it in the future when Edwards is gone. Do they just make the move now?
Beyond that, D’Marcos Jackson had a strong season in 2025, and the team re-signed him. He is another player with stronger ties to Allen than Edwards does. He has been taking advantage without Edwards. Does he continue to mix in, or is he clearly the third linebacker who only plays a bit?
The depth behind them has a few questions as well. Both Noah Sewell and Keyshaun Elliott are on the Physically Unable to Perform list. It has allowed both Ruben Hyppotlite and Jack Sanborn to get plenty of second-team work behind Bush and Jackson.
If it is Edwards and Bush on the first team in nickel, Jackson will fall back to the second team. Does he run with Hyppolite or Sanborn? That will tell us a lot about the bottom of the depth chart.
The return of Edwards has a few significant domino impacts across the depth chart.
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