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Bears week immediately starts with a huge decision fans have been waiting for that the coaches have no choice but to finally make

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 10:24 AM ET

The Chicago Bears, once again, have a lot of things to fix following an ugly loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.

Offensively, the team was inconsistent and overall a mess when it came to making all of the same mental mistakes and it seems like head coach Ben Johnson is nearing his breaking point. Defensively, the takeaway well finally dried up while the unit was forced to deal with multiple injuries, but before and during the actual game.

The latter of those concerns lead us to an important decision the Bears will have to make early this week, and it's a decision fans have been waiting on to finally happen.

Time is ticking to activate DE Austin Booker

On Oct. 7th, the Bears opened the 21-day practice window for second-year defensive end Austin Booker to return from the injured reserve. Booker suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game, halting a strong showing he was putting together as a pass rusher.

It seemed like the Bears were excited for the potential boost Booker would bring to a struggling pass rush, yet the coaching staff elected not to activate him back to the 53-man roster for three consecutive games despite Booker being a full participant in every practice.

Austin Booker has been listed as a full participant in every practice for 3 weeks now. Super weird that he's still not active.

Bears can still activate him until Tuesday within his 3 week window. I assume that's coming. https://t.co/FS57Vlzjyu
— Johnathan Wood (@Johnathan_Wood1) October 25, 2025

That decision finally backfired on the Bears on Sunday when two defensive linemen in Dominique Robinson (ankle) and rookie Shemar Turner (knee) left the game, putting a strain on the team's depth. What's even more annoying is that the Bears currently have an open spot on the 53-man roster following the slew of moves made on Saturday leading up to the game.

Booker's 21-day practice window will expire this Tuesday, giving the Bears just a few hours to finally make this decision, and one the coaches should feel forced to make following those two injuries. If he's not activated after Tuesday, Booker will return to the injured reserve for the rest of the season.

When asked about Booker's status in practice and why he hasn't been activated going into Week 7, Johnson mentioned Booker is eventually going to be able to help the team, but the coaches felt good about the players the team currently had. After a game in which the defense struggled against a backup quarterback, perhaps something needs to change.

it’s final, per @NextGenStats. I should have clarified that it was 3 dropbacks that had a pressure (there were plays where multiple players recorded a pressure).

2 sacks on 3 plays with pressures.

Sweat: 2
Dexter: 2
Jarrett: 1
Sewell: 1 https://t.co/ZPYAcHVB7S
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 27, 2025

Maybe it's a conditioning thing with getting Booker back into playing shape coming off a knee injury that's held him off the field the last three weeks. Regardless, time is running out for the Bears to make this decision and Chicago still has the open roster spot to use for Booker's return.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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