The Chicago Bears defense has been an absolute mess over the last five quarters of football, and to make things worse, injury luck is currently running the wrong direction.
Chicago has allowed 73 points over its last 75 minutes played, which tallies out to more than 14.5 points per period — or nearly one point per every minute of game time. And to clarify, the Bears‘ offense was on the field for several of those minutes.
That type of production, or rather lack thereof, is unsustainable for any team with any prayer of playing competitive football at the NFL level. And nothing gets easier as the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) come to Soldier Field next Sunday in a game that the Bears essentially need to win to muster any momentum and keep any hope of a playoff bid alive — a rough scenario so early in the season for a team that has entered each of the past two campaigns with high hopes for its immediate future.
Injuries have made things even worse for Chicago, as the defense is already down multiple crucial starters and received more bad news on Wednesday.
Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) is considered a long shot to play Sunday against the Cowboys,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported.
Edwards sat out Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings due to the hamstring issue. He returned against the Lions, but re-injured the muscle during the game.
T.J. Edwards Has Been Stalwart on Bears Defense Over Past 2 Seasons
GettyLinebacker T.J. Edwards of the Chicago Bears.
Edwards has not always been great since joining the Bears three seasons ago, though Pro Football Focus ranked him 20th out of 179 players who saw enough snaps to qualify at the position in 2023.
He has also been good and consistent enough since then to start every game in which he’s played for the Bears. Edwards earned a two-year, $20 million contract extension in April.
But after sitting out Wednesday’s practice, Edwards is yet another defensive starter who is unlikely to take the field against a potent Cowboys pass attack. And while missing Edwards matters, the absences in the secondary are of more serious and immediate concern to Chicago’s defense.
Bears Likely Without CBs Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon in Week 3 Against Dangerous Cowboys’ Pass Attack
GettyChicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Dallas doesn’t have much of a defense of its own, but its offense is exceptional behind a pass attack led by quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, arguably two No. 1 options on the same team.
The Cowboys are averaging 30 points per game two weeks into the year and should be able to throw on a secondary that afforded Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff a total of 334 yards and five TDs at Ford Field Sunday.
Star Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson re-aggravated a groin injury against the Lions last week and is out indefinitely — though not yet on IR, which would guarantee Johnson misses at least a month. Meanwhile, nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon, who is among the best in the league in the slot, remains out with a hamstring issue.
Neither Johnson or Gordon practiced Wednesday, per the team’s official injury report. Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, whom the Bears spent considerable money to acquire in free agency over the offseason, also sat out practice Wednesday with a knee issue.
Bears Defense Gets More Bad Injury News Ahead of Must-Win Cowboys Matchup