Despite the fact that they led the league in takeaways last season, the Chicago Bears defense had a lot of questions to answer, most of which were due to injuries they suffered.
One of the biggest losses Chicago had to deal with on multiple occasions last year was linebacker T.J. Edwards, who was limited to 10 games as he battled through both a hamstring and hand injury, and later suffered a fractured fibula in the Bears’ wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.
With the 2026 season drawing closer, Edwards will be needed on the field as both a leader and consistent high-level playmaker for the defense, and the entire coaching staff knows that. Recently, Bears linebacker coach Richard Smith spoke about the absence of Edwards last season and his value to the team overall, giving him high praise both on and off the field.
“T.J. is a great man, I’ve said if he wasn’t married, you’d want him to marry your daughter,” Smith said, via Josh Buckhalter. “He’s a great human being, he’s very smart, there’s no ego to him, he’s confident, he’s a great teammate. He’s a smart football player and once you lost him, it hurts you because he’s one of your guys as a starter who can play all three positions for you. Once you lose a guy like that, that hurts you, but you have to move on. It’s part of the game. Right now he’s working really hard in his rehab and he’s coming along fine. He’s in every meeting, he’s one of the leaders. It hurts when you lose one of your starters but you’re always hopeful one of your backups can come in and perform as well.”
Getting Edwards on the field will be a big key for the defense and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, especially after the departure of veteran Tremaine Edmunds this offseason. Chicago did bring in reinforcements at the position this offseason, signing Devin Bush in free agency, re-signing D’Marco Jackson to a two-year deal, bringing back former Chicago native Jack Sanborn, and drafting rookie Keyshaun Elliott in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears LBs coach explains importance of a healthy T.J. Edwards
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
