Darnell Wright is preparing to play through a boatload of pain this season.
The Chicago Bears right tackle is in a huge year, contractually speaking. After 2025, the Bears will have to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option, and until then, Wright will be playing with one good arm.
A player’s fifth-year option — always decided on after their third season — is huge, because it’s fully guaranteed. If Wright continues to play well, he’ll be getting just under $20 million for his fifth year, per Over the Cap.
Considering Wright has missed time with the injury already, it’s fair to be concerned. “Darnell Wright returned to action 22 days after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow,” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune wrote on October 14.
“It’s an injury that would send a pitcher or quarterback to the doctor for Tommy John surgery. After receiving second and third opinions, according to a source, the belief is Wright will not require surgery. The plan, at least right now, is to allow the UCL to scar over.”
Wright Has Been Reliable & Durable Over His 3 Seasons
GettyChicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright will be playing injured for the remainder of the 2025 season. He’ll wear a brace on his elbow all year.
As a rookie, Wright started all 17 games and logged 1,127 offensive snaps—99.6% of Chicago’s total—on his way to PFWA All-Rookie honors. His second season, in 2024, he played 1,021 snaps (about 90% of the offense’s plays) while starting 16 games, missing only Week 10.
His current elbow injury sidelined him Week 4 against the Raiders, but he’s already back and determined to play out the season.
“With the brace, which he is expected to wear for the remainder of the season, the hope is his power and strength won’t be diminished,” Biggs wrote about Wright.
Chicago’s pass protection has looked noticeably better in 2025. The Bears allowed zero sacks in their Week 3 win over Dallas while Wright was anchoring the right side, and the Bears right tackle is a big reason the team’s running game just broke out against the Washington Commanders, as well. If he plays as well as he did against the Commanders — which he did wearing the brace — he should have no problem finishing the season and seeing his option picked up.
More on Bears RT Darnell Wright Playing With a Brace on His Arm for the Remainder of 2025
“If it turns out Wright requires a procedure to address the elbow after the season, the Bears would have a good amount of time to evaluate the situation before the (fifth-option) deadline,” Biggs noted.
“A best-case scenario for all parties might wind up being a multiyear deal, but there’s no deadline to push that kind of move. For now, Wright will have to prove he can play well with the brace on his arm to bolster his bargaining power. He played well Monday — the Bears were able to move the ball on the ground — and he’s going to put the elbow out of his mind as much as possible.”
Across three seasons, Wright has missed just two games, so he’s been a constant presence on the O-line thus far. He’ll be playing with a clear handicap the remainder of the season, though — one other teams know about and will try to exploit.
“It’s not as strong,” Wright admitted when asked about his elbow, via Biggs. “It hurts. You just play through it.”
That’s clearly the plan. Wright and the Bears are hoping it’s a good one.
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