Devastating lineup change! Bears lose all three starting linebackers. Discover their defensive Plan B as untested players step up.
Well, Chicago Bears fans, what we feared all week has been made official in Friday's injury report.
Chicago is going to be without all three of its starting linebackers, as T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Tremaine Edmunds (groin) and Noah Sewell (elbow) all won't be playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
None of them practiced a single day throughout the week, so this was easy to see coming. However, it's still a massive blow to the Bears' defense.
Chicago had five players listed as out in total, with running backs Roschon Johnson (thumb) and Travis Homer (hamstring/knee) set to miss the game as well.
The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs offered some insight as to how the Bears' defense could look without their three starting linebackers on the field. He believed that Chicago would probably use D'Marco Jackson and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II in place of Edwards, Edmunds and Sewell.
He also predicted that fans could see a lot of nickel defense on Sunday.
Using more nickel than usual is the best option for Chicago, especially with C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kyler Gordon potentially returning in Week 12.
Gardner-Johnson has already gotten plenty of snaps at nickel in Gordon's absence as he has been recovering from a calf injury. Gordon's specialty is at nickel corner, as he is one of the highest-paid at the position. He is currently in the first year of a three-year, $40 million extension via Spotrac.
The former second-round draft pick out of Washington showed signs of returning on Sunday, after being a full participant on Friday. The Bears opened Gordon's 21-day practice window this week after he had been on the injured reserve since Week 8.
Gordon, along with Jaylon Johnson, is questionable ahead of the game. Johnson has also missed significant time this season, after suffering a groin injury in the 52-21 Week 2 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Sunday's game is a big opportunity for Hyppolite. The rookie was selected in the fourth round of April's draft out of Maryland. He has played in six games this season and recorded four total tackles.
Jackson is in his first season with Chicago after spending his first two years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. He has nine games under his belt in 2025 with no starts and 11 total tackles.
With the Bears top three choices out, the depth at linebacker will definitely be tested on Sunday.
The Steelers meet the Bears at Soldier Field at noon CT on CBS.