Bears vs. Steelers: Chicago Without Its Starting Linebackers
The Chicago Bears will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday without their starting linebacker unit. Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, and Noah Sewell were ruled out on Friday after not practicing all three days of the week. Edwards is recovering from hand surgery while still dealing with a hamstring injury, while Edmunds injured his groin at the end of the fourth quarter of Chicago’s 19-17 victory in Minnesota. Sewell also suffered an elbow injury against the Vikings after leading the Bears in tackles. Chicago will turn to backup linebackers D’Marco Jackson and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, who have played a combined total of 50 defensive snaps this season. The Bears also have linebackers Amen Ogbongbemiga and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who was signed to the practice squad from Detroit this week. Ogbongbemiga has only played on special teams since coming off injured reserve, while Reeves-Maybin has yet to record a snap this season. The Bears listed left tackle Theo Benedet (quadriceps) and safety Jaquan Brisker (shoulder) as questionable for Week 12. Benedet participated fully in practice on Wednesday but was downgraded to limited on Thursday and Friday. Brisker participated fully on Thursday and Friday.And although cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (groin) and Kyler Gordon (calf) remain on injured reserve, both participated fully in practice on Friday and have a questionable designation against the Steelers. The Bears have until December 5 to activate Johnson to the 53-man roster and until December 10 to do the same with Gordon.
