Tough times do not last; tough people do, and the Chicago Bears are trying to embody that amid injuries to some notable players, including starters in nickelback Kyler Gordon, linebacker T.J. Edwards and, most recently, safety Coby Bryant.
They have preached the standard “next man up” mentality, and their resolve is beginning to pay off.
Edwards returned to practice on Wednesday.
Bears Announce LB T.J. Edwards’ Return
T.J. Edwards Back at Bears Training Camp Practice
Edwards opened training camp on the non-football injury (NFI) list with what Bears general manager Ryan Poles said was a calf injury suffered away from the team’s facilities. Poles said that he did not expect Edwards to be sidelined for long.
Just over one week later, the Bears announced that they had activated Edwards from the NFI list ahead of Wednesday’s practice.
Edwards was the only roster move announced.
Edwards indeed took the field for practice. And while he did not participate in everything, he did get in on some team 7-on-7 drills in addition to his warm-ups and individual work during Wednesday’s session.
Edwards, who turns 30 on August 12, played in 10 games for the Bears last season, all starts, and finished fifth on the squad in combined tackles despite missing time.
He is signed through the 2027 season after getting a two-year, $20 million extension.
However, he is also one of several pricier veterans that the Bears could look to move on from next offseason as they navigate a tight financial situation with the possibility that quarterback Caleb Williams gets a franchise-altering contract extension.
T.J. Edwards’ Return a Positive Sign
On the field and in the locker room, Edwards is a leader. He rejoins 2026 free agent pickup Devin Bush, the replacement for former running mate Tremaine Edmunds, in the lineup.
That is an encouraging potential start to a trend for the Bears in terms of team health.
Bryant and Gordon’s injuries have the Bears in a familiar position, navigating multiple injuries in their defensive backfield. They overcame the setbacks then by leading the league in interceptions during the 2025 regular season.
That is not a way to live for a team with playoff and even Super Bowl aspirations. It is, however, a useful weapon that the Bears believe they can and do teach. Still, being able to have their intended starters lends itself to the kind of consistency they were hoping to see this coming season.
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