For years, the Chicago Bears didn't have to worry about T.J. Edwards missing a play, let alone a game. That all changed in 2025, when injuries limited him to just 10 games and a fractured fibula ended his season in the Wild Card round.
Edwards still managed to get back on the field for the season opener. He seemed understandably rusty in the win over the Carolina Panthers, looking sluggish and slow in the running game and hesitant in coverage.
He was slightly better in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but he was still a far cry from his stellar pre-injury level. So, as much as the team will give him a long leash, how long will it be until they run out of patience?
The Chicago Bears need T.J. Edwards to step up now
The Bears released Tremaine Edmunds to free up some much needed cap space, replacing him with an exciting former first-round pick in Devin Bush. Bush has looked the part next to Edwards, and he might be a solution at the MIKE linebacker spot if the veteran can't get it together.
Edwards had four defensive stops in Week 2 and didn't miss a single tackle after missing four in Week 1. Even so, he's struggled mightily in coverage, giving up seven catches on as many targets for 65 yards, one touchdown, and a 144.9 passer rating.
He's under contract for another season, and with $8.5 million in cap savings, he looks like a no-brainer casualty right now. He has plenty of time to pick things up, and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has the utmost confidence in him, but he has to pay it back with his play on the gridiron.
Through two weeks, Pro Football Focus has given him a 58.2 grade, ranking 48th among 71 eligible linebackers. The eye test hasn't been much more flattering, more so considering that his best performance came against an offensively-handicapped Minnesota Vikings squad.
The Bears' defense will be under the scope this season, especially during games Caleb Williams has to sit out with an injury. And as the man in the middle, the defensive quarterback, and one of the team's most proven veterans in the second level, all eyes will be on Edwards.
His next opportunity to bounce back will come against his former team on Monday Night Football. Certainly, a primetime date with Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith isn't what the doctor ordered for the struggling veteran.
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