It's Week 14, and it's safe to say that Ruben Hyppolite's rookie season hasn't gone as planned. The Chicago Bears' fourth-round rookie linebacker's debut campaign has been marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, culminating in only six total tackles in seven outings (one start) ahead of Sunday's all-important NFC North showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
The rivalry clash will be without Hyppolite, though, as he's out for the weekend with a shoulder injury. While missing Sunday's action isn't ideal, the former Maryland Terrapins defender's outlook received a boost when the Bears waived veteran LB Carl Jones Jr. on Saturday afternoon to clear space for newly-signed offensive lineman Jordan McFadden, per Adam Jahns of CHGO.
Chicago also elevated veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin from the practice squad for Sunday, leaving him with one opportunity left before the team must decide to sign him or not. With that in mind, these moving pieces could present the perfect opportunity for Hyppolite when he returns to action.
Ruben Hyppolite Can Use Special Teams Opportunity to Impress Bears
With Jones on the way out of the Windy City, someone is going to need to eat special teams snaps. Reeves-Maybin is a possibility, but he also might run away with a defensive role if he makes the most of Hyppolite's absence. If that's the case and he ends up being signed to the active roster, the Bears will still need someone to eat Jones' 16.4 special teams snaps per game.
That's where Hyppolite comes in.
The Bears likely didn't envision Hyppolite predominantly being a special teamer when he was drafted 132nd overall in April, but it isn't a bad situation to return to post-injury. Chicago fans know that the rookie linebacker hasn't lived up to expectations so far; however, proving himself by making gritty stops and handling the dirty work that ST coordinator Richard Hightower needs him to do could earn Hyppolite a lot of respect in the coaching staff's eyes.
Special teams aren't new for Hyppolite, who has played 82 snaps with Hightower's unit so far. His usage there has been inconsistent, though, as he's played as many as 24 special teams snaps (Week 2) and as few as five (Week 4). He's also posted a 48.9 special teams grade, per Pro Football Focus, and improving on that mark will go a long way in restoring Bears fans' faith in him.
Successfully running away with a special teams opportunity could also set Hyppolite up for a bigger role come playoff time. If Reeves-Maybin falters or doesn't get signed to the active roster, the Bears will need their 2025 fourth-rounder to step up and remind Chicago of his potential, perhaps even playing a key factor in determining how far the team's season goes.
For now, all eyes will be on Hyppolite to see if he can return to action against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. He logged a limited practice on Friday after back-to-back non-participations, giving a decent indication that his return and chance to prove himself to the Bears aren't that far away.