Sewell's Achilles tear ends his promising season, a devastating blow just before facing his brother and impacting the Bears' playoff hopes.
The Chicago Bears already had one injury scare in the 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
After the game's final play, rookie receiver Luther Burden III was seen holding his leg. Burden was later carted off the field, with fans assuming the worst. Luckily, he is believed to have just suffered a minor quad injury and avoided something major.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for linebacker Noah Sewell. Sewell was carted off the field with an injury earlier in the game, but it was about as bad as it looked. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the linebacker was believed to have torn his Achilles Tendon in the loss on Sunday Night.
The injury is brutal for Sewell, who recently came back from a different injury in Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers. Sewell was having a career year, accounting for 59 total tackles, three TFLs and one forced fumble.
There is another devastating factor in the injury, as the linebacker was about to face his brother, Penei Sewell, who plays for the Detroit Lions. Penei plays offensive tackle for the Lions and has played in every game for them this season.
The Chicago linebackers in 2025 have been dealing with injuries all year. Back in Week 12, the Bears were without all three of their starting linebackers, as T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds and Sewell were all out.
Edmunds recently had a stint on the injured reserve with a groin injury but was activated for the Packers game in Week 16.
The injury to Sewell means that fans can expect to see more of Amen Ogbongbemiga and D'Marco Jackson on the field. Ogbongbemiga, Jackson and Ruben Hyppolite II were the linebackers who stepped up against the Steelers.
However, Hyppolite hasn't played since that game for undisclosed reasons.
The injury to Sewell couldn't come at a worse time for the Bears, just before their playoff run. The loss to the 49ers means the Bears no longer have a chance to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The 49ers can claim it if they beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18. The worst the Bears can do now is finish as the No. 3 seed.
Head coach Ben Johnson will get another crack at the Lions after they handed the Bears a 52-21 loss in Week 2. Kickoff from Soldier Field on Sunday will be at 3:25 p.m. CT on Fox.