Dennis Allen was the Saints’ head coach when they drafted D’Marco Jackson in the fifth round 2022. He coached him through three seasons with the Saints before the Bears, citing his familiarity with Allen’s defense, claimed him in August.
Allen wasn’t surprised, then, when Jackson led the Bears with 15 tackles Sunday against the Steelers, forced into action when the Bears’ top four linebackers were injured.
Jackson knew early last week he’d be filling in for middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, whom the Bears eventually put on injured reserve with a groin injury.
“But you can’t do that in one week,” Allen said Tuesday. “You do that throughout the course of the entire season with how you prepare each and every week and how you study the game plan and how you pay attention in the meetings. It’s a non-stop process. It’s not like you just find out on Monday, ‘hey, I’m going to be playing,’ and here we go.”
He might have to go again. Linebackers T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Noah Sewell (elbow) and Ruben Hyppolite (shoulder) were listed as non-participants on the Bears’ estimated injury report Tuesday, when the team held a walk-through.
Hyppolite hurt his shoulder Sunday and had to be replaced by special teamer Amen Ogbongbemiga, who could start again on the weak side.
“Amen, I thought, stepped in and did a really nice job, cut it loose out there and had a lot of production for us,” Allen said. “I think that’s what we’re trying to build here, where everybody feels like they’re a part of this and they’ve got a piece and they’ve got accountability to each other. Because we’re all counting on everybody in this room.”
That applies to the cornerbacks room, too.
Tyrique Stevenson, whose injured hip flared up Sunday, was listed as a non-participant on the estimated injury report. That could open the door for the Bears to return either of their two standout cornerbacks, Jaylon Johnson (groin) or Kyler Gordon (calf), from injured reserve.
Allen figures to be creative with his defensive back alignment whenever the two return. Nahshon Wright, who is tied with teammate Kevin Byard for the NFL’s interceptions lead, will continue to play, though his role might be more specialized.
“We gotta find a way to get our best 11 guys on the field,” defensive backs Al Harris said. “[Wright] is one of our best 11 guys.”
Notes
• Defensive end Dominique Robinson (concussion) and rookie guard Luke Newman (concussion) would have missed practice Tuesday had the Bears held more than a walk-though. Left tackle Theo Benedet (quad) would have been a full participant.
• The Eagles will wear their black alternate uniforms on “Black Friday.”