The Bears’ defense is coming back together, and they could get mainstay linebacker T.J. Edwards back for the Packers game Sunday.
Edwards has been out four games with a broken right hand and a hamstring injury and practiced Tuesday for the first time in a little over a month. He went through position drills during the part of practice open to the media, but the Bears weren’t required to specify whether he practiced full or partially.
Edwards had surgery on his hand, but coach Ben Johnson said his hamstring injury was the real issue. The Bears have been confident Edwards could play through a broken hand with it wrapped in a cast.
Few players have been as essential defensively as Edwards, who led the team in tackles in 2023 and was second to safety Kevin Byard last season. He started every game in his first two seasons, but has played just five this season.
Edwards missed the opener with a hamstring injury and got hurt again Nov. 2 against the Bengals.
The Bears are still without fellow starting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury. The soonest he can return is Week 16 against the Packers.
Top backup linebacker Noah Sewell, who missed the last two games with an elbow injury, also was on the field Tuesday.
