The Chicago Bears were forced to make several adjustments to their roster ahead of hosting the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
At the top of the list would be a pair of losses.
However, as they have done all season, the Bears are better equipped to overcome those issues than most. That is due partly to their other moves on the day, ahead of their biggest game since the 2018 season.
Bears Make Flurry of Roster Moves Before Rams Playoff Game
Bears Lose Starting Duo
The Bears announced on January 13 that they were placing Ozzy Trapilo (ruptured patellar tendon) and T.J. Edwards (fractured fibula) on season-ending injured reserve.
Edwards has battled injuries all season, missing the season opener with a hamstring injury. He aggravated that injury upon his return in Week 2. Edwards, who signed a three-year, $19.5 million extension last offseason, played in 11 games this season, including the playoffs.
The Bears are accustomed to playing without him, but they will miss his leadership.
Trapilo was the second of the Bears’ three second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he worked his way from reserve right tackle to starting on Caleb Williams’ blindside during the season.
Both Edwards and Trapilo suffered their injuries during the Bears’ NFC Wild Card Playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. They will turn to some familiar faces in hopes of replacing them and continuing their postseason run.
Bears Add 2 Players to 53-Man Roster
The Bears also announced that they added a pair of veteran players to their “active roster,” naming Braxton Jones and Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
Jones is returning from a stint on injured reserve due to a knee injury. The Bears designated him for return on January 6, giving them until January 27 to make their final decision. However, Jones has been practicing for several weeks. The Bears ruled him out late last week.
The former starting left tackle, Jones returns to a reserve role.
He will serve as LT2 behind Trapilo’s replacement, former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet, who wrestled the job away from Jones before ceding duties himself to the rookie.
Reeves-Maybin was a Second Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler on special teams in 2023 and has ties to Bears head coach Ben Johnson. He will likely slot in behind starter Tremaine Edmunds and Edwards’ replacement, D’Marco Jackson.
The Bears also have rookie Ruben Hyppolite II and special teamer Amen Ogbongbemiga.
Bears Add Fitting Newcomer to Roster
The Bears also tweaked their practice squad roster, turning to another player with ties to the team and coaching staff.
Chicago signed linebacker Nephi Sewell to the practice squad.
Sewell is the older brother of Bears linebacker Noah Sewell, who is on IR and out for the season, as well as Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who also ended the season on the injured list.
Nephi Sewell was an UDFA out of Utah in 2022, breaking into the league with the New Orleans Saints, where he played under Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.