Bears Lose Key Defensive Leader T.J. Edwards Ahead of Divisional Clash with Rams
Injuries are a cruel part of the NFL postseason, and the Chicago Bears are learning that the hard way. Just as the team is riding high off its first playoff win since 2010-a dramatic comeback over division rival Green Bay-they’re now staring down the rest of their playoff run without one of their most important defensive leaders.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards is officially out for the season after suffering a fractured fibula during that emotional win at Soldier Field. And while the Bears' locker room is buzzing with postseason energy, the loss of Edwards casts a long shadow heading into their Divisional Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Let’s be clear: this is a big blow. Edwards isn’t just another starter-he’s been a tone-setter for this defense since arriving in Chicago in 2023.
With 351 tackles in just two seasons, he’s been a model of production when healthy. Even in a year where he battled to stay on the field, Edwards still managed 67 tackles and a pick-six across 10 starts.
That kind of sideline-to-sideline playmaking doesn’t just get replaced overnight.
And then there’s the intangible factor. Edwards isn’t just a key piece of the defense-he’s a local guy, a Lake Villa native who’s lived the Bears dream from the backyard to the big stage. That kind of story matters in a city like Chicago, especially when the team is chasing its first NFC Championship appearance in over a decade.
His absence also strips the Bears of one of their most experienced playoff performers. Edwards has played in six postseason games, including a Super Bowl with the Eagles. That kind of experience is gold in January, when the pressure ratchets up and every snap feels like a season in itself.
But this is the NFL, and the next man up mentality isn’t just a cliché-it’s a necessity.
Enter D’Marco Jackson.
Jackson stepped in after Edwards went down in the second quarter against Green Bay, and he’ll be the expected starter when the Bears take the field against the Rams. While he’s spent most of his career as a reserve linebacker and special teams standout, Jackson isn’t walking into unfamiliar territory.
There’s a connection here that could matter more than people realize-Jackson spent three seasons in New Orleans under Dennis Allen, who just so happens to be the Bears’ defensive coordinator. That familiarity with Allen’s scheme gives Jackson a leg up in terms of plug-and-play readiness. He knows the terminology, the expectations, and the responsibilities of the position in this system.
And if you’re looking for a reason to believe Jackson can rise to the moment, look no further than his breakout performance earlier this season. Filling in for an injured Tremaine Edmunds, Jackson delivered a game-changing outing against the Cleveland Browns: a sack, an interception, and a dominant presence throughout a 31-3 win. That performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and a shoutout from head coach Ben Johnson, who called his interception the turning point of the game.
Now, the Bears are hoping lightning can strike twice.
Replacing a player like Edwards isn’t about matching every stat or replicating every play-it’s about maintaining the standard. Jackson has shown flashes that he can do just that. And with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line, the Bears will need him to step into that spotlight once again.
This defense has been one of the league’s most physical and opportunistic units all year. Losing Edwards changes the equation-but it doesn’t end the story. If Jackson can channel the same energy and execution he showed earlier this year, the Bears might just keep this playoff ride going.