The Chicago Bears have parted ways with one of their linebackers — again — as part of their final adjustments for facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 14.
According to the team’s transaction wire, the Bears waived linebacker Carl Jones Jr. from the 53-man roster and signed guard Jordan McFadden from the practice squad to take his place on the active roster in a series of roster moves on Saturday, December 6.
Jones — a 2024 UDFA signing — had played 148 total special teams snaps in his nine appearances for the Bears this season, recording the team’s third-most tackles (11) in the third phase behind veteran Jonathan Owens (13) and Daniel Hardy (16). With two starters returning, though, the Bears didn’t need six linebackers on the active roster.
The Bears did, however, temporarily promote another linebacker to help out on special teams, elevating veteran Jalen Reeves-Maybin from their practice squad for the second straight week. He made the Pro Bowl as a special teams contributor for Detroit in 2023.
The Bears (9-3) will kick off against the Packers (8-3-1) at 4:25 p.m. ET today.
T.J. Edwards, Noah Sewell Both Cleared vs. Packers
While Jones produced on special teams for the Bears, his departure is hardly a surprise, given how much healthier they have gotten at linebacker ahead of the Packers game.
The Bears managed to clear both veteran T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell — two of their top three linebackers — from the injury report heading into Week 14’s road game with the Packers. Sewell had missed two straight games with an elbow injury, while Edwards had missed four in a row with a broken right hand and a nagging hamstring injury.
Edwards and Sewell rejoining the lineup should offer the Bears defense a boost against the Packers after they spent the past few weeks with only backup linebackers available. Don’t be surprised if the Bears hold Edwards — who has played just five games in 2025 — to a pitch count, though, as they ease him back in for what they hope is a playoff run.
The Bears also won’t have all of their linebackers available against the Packers. Not only is veteran Tremaine Edmunds still on injured reserve, but the Bears have also ruled out rookie Ruben Hyppolite II for a second straight week with a shoulder injury.
Can Jordan McFadden Make Case to Stay in 2026?
While the Bears are a little lighter on linebackers now, they are more secure along the interior of their offensive line after officially signing McFadden to the active roster.
An offseason addition off the waiver wire, McFadden has helped chip in some special teams snaps as a practice-squad elevation in each of the past two weeks for the Bears. The Bears did not need to call upon him for any offensive snaps, but he also acted as one of their top backup guards behind Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in Week 13.
The Bears needed to add more interior depth after placing rookie guard Luke Newman on injured reserve last week, meaning he must miss at least three more games and will not be eligible to return to the 53-man roster until Week 17 at the soonest for Chicago.
McFadden will help give the Bears a placeholder in the meantime, even though he is not likely to see much action on offense as long as Thuney and Jackson are both healthy.
Bears Part Ways With Linebacker Before Kickoff Against Packers