The Chicago Bears made a highly scrutinized decision in the 2025 NFL Draft. To kick off Day 3, they traded down from pick No. 109 to No. 132 to select LB Ruben Hyppolite II, a prospect that was mocked in later rounds of the draft. Some even expected him to be an undrafted free agent. But GM Ryan Poles was impressed by his speed, athleticism, and versatility, which led the Bears to reach for the five-year player out of Maryland.
Hyppolite stumbled out of the gate in his rookie campaign. Under the weight of increased expectations, Hyppolite failed to become a part of the rotation and lost the third linebacker job to Noah Sewell. He had an opportunity for an increased role with T.J. Edwards' injury ahead of Week 10, but things didn't go according to plan for him against the New York Giants.
Bears' Questionable Draft Pick Looks Even Worse After Week 10
The fourth-round pick who last played for the Bears in Week 4 has been a healthy scratch since then. Even when he has been available, he has largely been utilized on special teams. He played 18 defensive snaps and 69 special teams snaps so far. He was due for an increased snap count in Edwards' absence until he suffered a knee injury in the second half and was ruled out. The fact that Hyppolite was first deemed questionable to return before getting ruled out is not a good sign for his availability going forward.
This is a devastating blow for the Bears as they are running out of bodies in the linebacker room. Edwards underwent surgery on his broken hand and is still dealing with a hamstring injury. Upon getting activated from the injured reserve list, Amen Ogbongbemiga made his season debut, and Noah Sewell saw an increased run.
Starting alongside Tremaine Edmunds, Sewell struggled in coverage. He also missed a crucial tackle on Devin Singletary in the fourth quarter, which led to a 41-yard run. Sewell is continuing his inconsistent play despite showing flashes at times since being a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, forcing head coach Ben Johnson's hand to find a solution.
It looks like Edwards will avoid the IR, but he will likely miss a few games. The Bears would love for Hyppolite to step up in his absence, especially since he has the physical tools that Sewell doesn't, at least on paper. If this knee injury keeps the rookie out as well, however, this could end up being a lost season for Hyppolite.