The Chicago Bears gave their fans a lot to cheer about on Saturday night as they came back from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
While there was a ton of celebrating happening after the game, the Bears received some bad news on the injury front regarding veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards. Chicago head coach Ben Johnson told reporters that Edwards suffered a fractured fibula, which will knock him out for the remainder of the playoffs, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.
Edwards suffered the devastating leg injury in the early portion of the second quarter and was immediately carted off the field in an air cast. For Bears fans, this was the last thing they wanted to see as Edwards has dealt with his fair share of injuries this season, which has kept him off the field.
With Edwards out for the rest of the game, Chicago turned to D’Marco Jackson, who started in four games for the Bears this season. Jackson racked up five total tackles and a tackle for loss across 56 defensive snaps. He also played a little bit on special teams as well (10 snaps).
Now, the Bears will likely lean on Jackson for the rest of the playoffs, which could help solidify his standing in the Windy City for 2026 depending on how he plays.
D’Marco Jackson’s Number Is Suddenly Up Again After T.J. Edwards’ Injury News
While it's disappointing not have Edwards for the rest of the playoffs, at least the Bears know they have an adequate backup in Jackson. When Jackson was claimed off waivers by the Bears at the end of the preseason, the idea was that he would be a core special teamer and backup on Dennis Allen’s unit.
However, due to the amount of injuries at linebacker this season, Jackson was thrusted into the starting lineup in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was his first career start. The 27-year-old defender did not disappoint as he had a ridiculous 15 total tackles and a tackle for loss.
While he allowed all four targets to be caught in coverage, he also limited big plays, holding opposing receivers to 20 yards and holding opposing quarterbacks to post an 87.5 passer rating when targeted. Jackson would get the start in the Bears’ next three games, where he had 15 combined tackles, a sack, and a quarterback pressure.
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wasn’t shy about using Jackson as a blitzer, he was brought on a blitz 10 times during that three-game stretch. For a team that lacks a consistent pass rusher, Jackson could become a valuable weapon in the divisional round for whoever they face next week.
That said, if Jackson succeeds and plays well in the divisional round, he will leave the Bears no choice but to re-sign him in free agency. With Noah Sewell and now T.J. Edwards out due to season-ending injuries, it will be paramount for the Bears to bring back Jackson, who has proven himself to be a reliable option off the bench.