The Chicago Bears have announced another key injury to their defensive lineup following their first practice for Week 12’s game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to the team’s injury report, Bears starting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds did not participate in Wednesday’s first practice because of a groin injury. He had played all 55 defensive snaps for the Bears in last Sunday’s 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Edmunds has not missed a game for the Bears since 2023, when he sat out two games with a knee injury, but he will have two more practices to improve his participation and avoid an injury designation heading into Sunday’s home game against the Steelers.
The Bears also did not have veteran T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring) and Noah Sewell (elbow) at Wednesday’s practice, leaving them without all three of their top linebackers. Edwards did not play against the Vikings last week because of his injuries, but Sewell played 53 defensive snaps and appeared to finish the game despite getting shaken up.
The Bears (7-3) will play the Steelers (6-4) at Soldier Field at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Injuries Could Explain Jalen Reeves-Maybin Signing
While the Bears listing all three of their top linebackers on the injury report presents a potential problem for them in the week ahead, it also explains Tuesday’s latest signing.
The Bears signed former Detroit Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin — a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler on special teams — on Tuesday to their practice squad, giving them a second linebacker to consider for game-day elevation alongside Carl Jones Jr.
Reeves-Maybin played in 114 games (1,639 career defensive snaps) over his first eight seasons in the NFL, all but one of them spent with the Lions. He also led the league in special teams tackles (14) the last time he was healthy enough to play an entire season.
The Bears have five linebackers signed to their 53-man roster, including veteran Amen Ogbongbemiga and D’Marco Jackson, but they might need to promote at least one more for the sake of depth if one of their three injured linebackers cannot play in Week 12. It is possible they would elevate both Jones and Reeves-Maybin if they rule out multiple.
New Jaquan Brisker Injury Also Pops Up on Report
The Bears will also have a new injury to monitor with strong safety Jaquan Brisker, who joined the three linebackers on Wednesday’s injury report with a new shoulder injury.
Brisker missed two practices last week with a back injury, but he wound up playing all but one of the team’s total defensive snaps against the Vikings despite a collision with one of his teammates that appeared to leave him briefly shaken during the game.
If Brisker cannot play, the Bears could turn more heavily toward recent signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson against the Steelers. He has shone in his first three games with the Bears, recording 19 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.
The Bears will also have a chance at returning cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon for Week 12’s matchup. Gordon had his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday, while the team designated Johnson — a Pro Bowler — for return last week.
The only other Bears who did not practice on Wednesday were defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and free safety Kevin Byard III, who both received non-injury/veteran rest days.
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