Veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards returned to the practice field on Wednesday after being activated off the non-football injury list. Find out what the Bears' linebacker did in practice and what he means to Chicago's defense.
The Chicago Bears activated veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards off the non-football injury list ahead of Wednesday's seventh training camp practice at Halas Hall.
Edwards, 29, has been sidelined with a calf injury that he sustained before training camp. According to local beat reporters, Edwards participated in Wednesday's practice, doing individual work, and even completed his mandatory 40 up-downs that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen requires for each member of the defense.
Edwards played in just 10 regular-season games last season because of a series of injuries. Against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round, Edwards fractured his fibula after playing just 12 snaps in the game.
The veteran linebacker finished with 67 total tackles, 0.5 sacks and a pick-6 that occurred on the first offensive snap of the game against the San Francisco 49ers.
While Edwards has been recovering from his injury, veteran linebacker Jack Sanborn has received a majority of the linebacker reps next to Devin Bush when the team has lined up in their base defense.
In Tuesdays' fully padded practice, Bush blew up some plays against Caleb Williams and the Bears' first-team starting offense. The speedy linebacker blitzed Williams on one rep, forcing the Bears' quarterback to escape the pocket and the play ended with an incomplete pass. Bush nearly intercepted Williams on another rep during 11-on-11s.
"I do think that he's going to bring some coverage versatility that I'm excited about," defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said on Tuesday.
The Bears signed Bush to a 3-year, $30 million deal in free agency. Allen will finally get an opportunity over the next few days to see how Bush and Edwards play alongside each other.
As the Bears continue to practice throughout the summer, keeping players healthy will be a priority. Edwards is coming off an injury and missed significant time last season. The last thing the Bears want is for any of their players to reinjury themselves during this portion of the season.
It's something Allen and the coaching staff must be cognizant of as the team navigates the summer.
“We pay attention to that, and yet there's a way that you have to practice the game of football to get yourself ready to play the game of football," Allen said. "I think you're just as likely to have injuries if you don't push yourself and get your body acclimated to and develop some calluses to the speed and the physicality of the game. I think you have to practice that way, and yet there is a delicate balance. ..."
