Week 1 is here, and the Chicago Bears may be kicking off their 2025 campaign without two very important players.
During the team’s September 3 practice, starting linebacker T.J. Edwards and backup running back Roschon Johnson sat out with injuries, casting serious doubt on whether they’ll make their season debuts against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
If neither player can go, expect LB Noah Sewell and practice squad running back Brittain Brown to fill in.
“Feels like a very strong chance that Brittain Brown gets the call up on Monday night & that Sewell will be playing in place of Edwards,” Aaron Leming of Windy City Gridiron wrote on X.
T.J. Edwards’ Injury Status Big for Chicago Bears Heading Into Week 1 vs. Vikings
GettyLinebacker T.J. Edwards of the Chicago Bears could miss Week 1 vs. the Minnesota Vikings with an injury.
Edwards has been battling a nagging lower-body issue has remained undisclosed. He dealt with something similar back in the spring, so it’s unclear whether he suffered a setback at the worst possible time, or whether he never fully healed.
Over his two seasons in the Windy City, Edwards quickly became one of the leaders of Chicago’s defense. In 2023, he led the Bears with 153 tackles (90 solo) and added 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
He followed that up in 2024 with another 129 tackles (12 for loss), 4.0 sacks, a pick and a forced fumble. He was one tackle shy of leading the team in tackles for the second season in a row (safety Kevin Byard led the defense with 140 total tackles).
Without him, he Bears will have to rely more on Tremaine Edmunds, who can take the green dot and handle play-calling duties. Sewell and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II will also have to step in and step up.
Still, without him, Chicago is going to lose some of the reliability Edwards brings in diagnosing runs and cleaning up space underneath. Against a Vikings team that likes to stretch defenses horizontally and take advantage of hesitation in the middle, that’s a definite concern.
What’s Going on With RB Roschon Johnson’s Injury Status?
Johnson’s situation is a little clearer, but no less concerning. A foot injury suffered in early August has sidelined him for weeks, and while he’s been listed as questionable, it seems clear he’ll be out against the Vikings. If he can’t go, the Bears’ RB rotation will look slightly different.
In two seasons with Chicago, he’s carried the ball 136 times for 502 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, also hauling in 50 passes for 313 yards. In 2024, he had only 55 carries for 150 yards, but he scored six touchdowns, most of them in short-yardage and goal-line situations. That reliability in tight spaces makes him a nice complement to D’Andre Swift.
Swift will shoulder the majority of the workload, while rookie Kyle Monangai can help fill the gap near the goal line. Brown will likely get moved up from the practice squad as insurance.
The release of the first injury report will offer more clarity on both Edwards and Johnson, but as it stands, things aren’t looking good.
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