Chicago Bears finally get key defender back to practice

Chicago Bears TJ Edwards celebrates a big play – Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears finally get key defender back to practice

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 5, 2026 11:55 AM ET

The Chicago Bears defense has been battling the first-team offense with quite a few backups and reserves this summer amid injuries to several starters and backups in the secondary and at linebacker.

Linebackers T.J. Edwards, Kayshaun Elliott, and Noah Sewell have been dealing with injuries. Kyler Gordon has not practiced in training camp while dealing with a soft-tissue injury that kept him out of mandatory minicamp this spring. Coby Bryant is out for the next eight to 10 weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee.

Per the Bears, Edwards has been activated off the non-football injury list. He had been dealing with a calf injury he suffered over the summer break.

The Chicago Bears need T.J. Edwards healthy

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With Tremaine Edmunds no longer on the defense, Edwards’ play will be crucial for the Bears this fall. He fractured his fibula in the Bears’ win over the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. He told reporters this spring that he hoped to be “ready when it’s time to go,” but it’s unclear if he meant training camp or the regular season.

“I don’t want to put a date on it or anything like that,” Edwards said. “Knowing me, I will push as hard as I can to move that as quickly as possible, but I also want to be smart about it too. It is April.

“As hard as it is to not be out there every step of the way right now during phase one, I know I’m on a really good plan with the trainers. I’ll be ready when it’s time to go, for sure.”

Edwards played in 10 games last season as he dealt with another injury. He had surgery to repair a broken hand in November, causing the linebacker to miss four games. He wound up recording 67 tackles, .5 sacks, and two tackles for loss last season.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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