The Bears' defense is about to get significantly better. Chicago activated linebacker Tremaine Edmunds from injured reserve on Friday, clearing him to play in Saturday night's pivotal game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
Edmunds has missed the Bears' last four games with a groin injury but practiced fully this week and showed no signs of limitation. His return couldn't come at a better time — with first place in the NFC North on the line and the Packers coming to town, having the team's leading tackler back in the middle of the defense is a massive boost.
The Impact of Edmunds' Return
Despite missing those four games, Edmunds still leads Chicago with 89 tackles this season. He's also recorded nine passes defended and four interceptions in his third year with the Bears, anchoring a defense that ranks among the NFL's best in takeaways.
Edmunds' ability to cover tight ends and running backs in space has been critical to Chicago's defensive success, and his communication skills as the signal-caller in the middle of the field make everyone around him better. The Bears went 3-1 in his absence, but his presence against a Jordan Love-led passing attack could be the difference in a game where every possession matters.
Swift Cleared to Play
The Bears also received positive news on the offensive side, as running back D'Andre Swift has been cleared to play despite dealing with a groin injury that limited him in practice Wednesday and Thursday. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler first reported Swift's status.
Swift has been Chicago's workhorse in the backfield, rushing for 935 yards this season and sitting just 65 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark. The Bears haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Justin Fields in 2022, and they haven't had a running back reach that milestone since David Montgomery in 2020 — the last time Chicago made the playoffs.
Having Swift healthy is critical for the Bears' game plan. Against Cleveland last week, Chicago leaned heavily on the run game to control the clock and limit possessions for the Browns. Expect a similar approach Saturday night, especially with receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III both ruled out.
Alexander Elevated from Practice Squad
To help offset the losses of Odunze and Burden, the Bears elevated wide receiver Maurice Alexander from the practice squad. Alexander has appeared in seven career NFL games, all with Detroit, and will provide depth at receiver alongside DJ Moore, Colston Loveland, and Devin Duvernay.
Alexander's role will likely be limited, but having an additional body at receiver gives the offense more flexibility. Duvernay, who has been excellent in the return game all season, is expected to see an expanded role as a receiver as well.
Saturday Night Implications
The return of Edmunds and the availability of Swift are significant developments for a Bears team that needs every advantage it can get against Green Bay. Chicago (10-4) holds a half-game lead over the Packers (9-4-1), and a win would vault the Bears to 11-4 with a commanding 1.5-game cushion in the division and a critical head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Bears are 5-1 at Soldier Field this season and have won five of their last six games overall. With Edmunds back in the middle of the defense and Swift healthy in the backfield, Chicago has the pieces in place to take control of the NFC North on Saturday night.
Kickoff is set for 7:20 PM CT on FOX.