Tremaine Edmunds Placed on IR as Bears Face Steelers Sunday

URGENT UPDATE: The Chicago Bears have officially placed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on injured reserve, a critical blow just ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Early Saturday morning, the Bears’ media website confirmed the move, listing Edmunds and running back Roschon Johnson on IR. This decision comes amid a flurry of roster changes as the team prepares for the game against the Steelers, who currently hold a record of 6-4.

In addition to the IR placements, the Bears have signed linebacker Carl Jones Jr. and running back Brittain Brown to their 53-man roster from the practice squad. Offensive tackle Jordan McFadden and tight end Nikola Kalinic have also been elevated to the game-day roster. However, the absence of cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon from the active lineup raises concerns about the defense’s effectiveness against the Steelers’ offense.

Edmunds, who suffered a groin injury in the final minutes of last Sunday’s 19-17 victory against the Minnesota Vikings, is expected to miss a minimum of four weeks. Imaging has revealed the severity of the injury, which occurred while he was covering tight end T.J. Hockenson.

“It’s a significant loss for us,” said Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen. “Tremaine has been playing at a Pro Bowl level this season.”

Edmunds leads the Bears with 89 tackles and has contributed four interceptions and nine pass breakups. His absence will push D’Marco Jackson into his first career start at middle linebacker, while rookie Ruben Hyppolite II is expected to fill the weak-side role.

The Bears (7-3) are already grappling with injury challenges, missing both Johnsons for significant stretches of the season. This will be the fifth game for which middle linebacker T.J. Edwards is sidelined due to injury. With the linebacker corps significantly depleted, Allen faces a daunting task against a Steelers team that may feature quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is listed as questionable due to a wrist injury.

The impact of these injuries extends beyond the field. The Bears have had to rely heavily on sub packages, with 80% of their defensive snaps coming from these formations, as they attempt to mitigate the losses on their defense.

Adding to the uncertainty is the status of left tackle Theo Benedet, who suffered a quad injury during Thursday’s practice. The addition of McFadden suggests that the Bears may be preparing for Benedet’s potential absence. If he cannot go, second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo could step in as the third left tackle to start this season.

This weekend’s game against the Steelers will be crucial for the Bears as they aim to maintain their playoff positioning in a competitive NFC. With the Bears also eyeing a potential return for Johnson and Gordon in the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, they face a tight schedule and the need for careful management of player health.

As the Bears grapple with injuries, the absence of Edmunds and Johnson will severely test the depth of their roster. The soonest Edmunds can return is the Week 16 meeting against the Green Bay Packers on December 20.

Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching how the Bears adjust their strategy against the Steelers, especially given the challenges posed by their injury-riddled roster. The team’s ability to adapt in real-time will be critical as they look to secure a victory and enhance their playoff chances.