NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Bears sat their starters for the final preseason game against the Titans on Saturday with one surprising exception: Veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards.
Edwards has had a limited workload in training camp after tweaking his right calf muscle while training in the offseason, and coach Ben Johnson has talked frequently about paying attention to the total number of reps for players. In Edwards’ case, that number would’ve been relatively low going into Saturday.
Not that he needs the work as he heads into his eighth season, but there was some value in Edwards getting some snaps — he didn’t play in the Bears’ first two preseason games — because he has the in-helmet radio to get play calls from defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Edwards played two series with a unit made up mostly of second-stringers — rookie safety Dillon Thieneman was the only other starter — as the Bears held the Titans’ backups to a three-and-out and a 28-yard field goal by Joey Slye. He led the team with five tackles at that point and headed to the sideline for the rest of the game.
Edwards has been a crucial piece for the Bears since arriving from the Eagles as a free agent in 2023 and got a contract extension last year that secured him through the ’27 season. He missed time multiple injuries last season, then broke his leg in the playoff win over the Packers.
The Bears will go into the season with Edwards and newcomer Devin Bush as their starting linebackers with D’Marco Jackson likely next in line. Bush played 24 snaps over the first two preseason games, but didn’t dress Saturday.
