The Chicago Bears are heating up at just the right time. Winners of five straight and now sitting atop the NFC as the calendar flips to December, they’ve put themselves in prime position for a postseason run.
But as any playoff hopeful knows, depth matters - especially when injuries start piling up. And for the Bears, linebacker has been a revolving door this season.
That’s why news out of Tennessee could have immediate implications in Chicago. Veteran linebacker Kyzir White and the Titans have agreed to part ways, and he’s now headed for waivers. If he clears, he’ll be a free agent - and a very intriguing one for a Bears team that’s been plugging holes at the second level of its defense for weeks.
Let’s be clear: the Bears have done an admirable job holding the line despite the injuries. Tremaine Edmunds is on injured reserve with a groin issue.
T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell have both missed time.
That’s forced the Bears to dip into their depth chart, leaning on less experienced players like Ruben Hyppolite II and D’Marco Jackson to fill the void. Then Hyppolite, in his first NFL start, went down with a shoulder injury in Week 12 and missed the following game against the Eagles.
Still, the Bears have kept winning - a testament to their defensive resilience and coaching. But with the postseason in sight, reinforcements would be more than welcome. That’s where White enters the picture.
At 29, Kyzir White brings a wealth of experience and production. He’s appeared in 93 career games, starting 73 of them, and has racked up 618 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 23 pass breakups, and six interceptions along the way.
Just last season, he posted a career-high 137 tackles with the Cardinals. That’s not just solid - that’s sideline-to-sideline, every-down linebacker production.
White’s 2025 season has been derailed by a hamstring injury, but he’s reportedly healthy now. And with the Titans sitting at 1-11 and firmly out of the playoff picture, they’ve opted to move on. That opens the door for a contender like Chicago to pounce.
If the Bears can land him - either via waivers or free agency - he’d be a valuable addition. Not as a savior, but as a stabilizer.
Edmunds and Edwards remain the top duo when healthy, but with the way this season has gone, there’s no guarantee the Bears will have both on the field consistently down the stretch. Adding a proven veteran like White gives them insurance, experience, and flexibility at a critical spot.
He’s played in multiple defensive systems and produced everywhere he’s gone. And for a Bears team that’s already shown it can adapt and overcome, White could be the kind of midseason pickup that quietly pays big dividends in January.
Nothing’s official yet. Chicago will have to wait and see how the waiver wire shakes out.
But if Kyzir White is available when their number comes up, the Bears would be wise to make the call. In a season where every edge matters, this one might be sitting right there for the taking.