Bears injury report: All 3 starting LBs ruled out vs Steelers this Sunday

The Chicago Bears face a massive defensive crisis heading into Sunday’s Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. All three starting linebackers—Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, and Noah Sewell—have been ruled out due to injuries. This depletes an already thin linebacker room and forces the bears to turn to backup options like D’Marco Jackson and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II. The 6-3 Bears enter as slight favorites despite losing key defensive components against the 5-4 Steelers.

The Linebacker Injury Crisis

Tremaine Edmunds and Noah Sewell are the Bears’ leading tacklers. Both suffered injuries in last Sunday’s game and were held out of practice all week. T.J. Edwards continues recovering from hand surgery and a hamstring injury dating back weeks.

The team ruled all three out on Friday’s final injury report. Now D’Marco Jackson and Ruben Hyppolite II will handle starting duties. The Bears also have Amen Ogbongbemiga available as depth, plus practice squad linebackers as emergency options.

This is categorized as a “crisis” across national media. The linebacker position anchors any NFL defense, especially against Pittsburgh’s physical running game approach.

How Pittsburgh Tests Chicago’s Defense

The Steelers should absolutely exploit this weakness. Pittsburgh has RB DeMarco Jackson and backup running backs who can attack downhill. Without experienced linebackers in the middle, Chicago‘s secondary gets exposed to underneath routes and run-blocking schemes.

Analysts project the Steelers will lean heavily on the run game to neutralize Chicago’s pass rush. The backup linebackers lack the tackling instinct and gap discipline that Edmunds and Sewell provide. Look for Pittsburgh to test this early and often.

Still, Chicago’s defense boasts All-Pro defensive linemen and strong safety play. The unit won’t crumble entirely. But efficiency drops measurably when starters go out.

Why Bears Still Favored Despite Injuries

The Chicago Bears enter as -2.5 point favorites for good reason. Their offense features QB Caleb Williams and elite playmakers. The Bears are 6-3 and in contention for the NFC division. Pittsburgh sits at 5-4 in a tighter AFC North race.

Statistically, Chicago’s 58% win probability reflects their offensive strength offsetting defensive losses. The Bears can still outscore Pittsburgh even if the backup linebackers struggle. Caleb Williams has been efficient at home, and D’Andre Swift provides pass-catching pop.

Place this game in context: Chicago is 6-2 ATS in their last eight games and 7-1 SU. They’ve shown resilience. The Steelers, meanwhile, haven’t dominated consistently enough to punish backup linebacker play alone.

Key Stats and Predictions

Model simulations give Chicago a 58% win probability versus Pittsburgh’s 42%. The over/under sits at 45.5 points, suggesting defensive struggles despite the injuries.

Recent trends favor Chicago. The Bears are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games at home. Pittsburgh hasn’t shown the offensive firepower to dominate a shorthanded Chicago defense. Most experts predict a Bears victory by field goal or touchdown margins.

However, if Pittsburgh’s running game finds rhythm early—particularly testing young linebackers—point spreads could tighten quickly. The Steelers win if they control time of possession and frustrate Chicago‘s offense through first-half success on the ground.

What Happens Next at Linebacker?

For future outlook, all three injured starters are questionable beyond this week. Edmunds and Sewell suffered new injuries Sunday. Medical reports suggest Sewell faces possible extended absence depending on elbow severity.

The Bears may have already explored options internally. Defensive schemes might shift to three safety looks or five defensive linemen packages to compensate. Jonathan Owens (safety) could see linebacker alignment in passing situations.

Will backup linebackers step up to give Chicago confidence beyond week 12? That’ll determine whether injuries become season-defining or manageable speed bumps.

Does Chicago’s Offensive Firepower Trump the Defensive Crisis?

This question frames the entire game. Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t elite enough to dominate Caleb Williams and company. If the Bears move the ball and score first, Chicago likely wins despite linebacker woes.

Conversely, if Pittsburgh scores early by attacking soft linebacker coverage, momentum shifts. Chicago’s margin for error shrinks considerably against a team hunting for playoff positioning.

Oddsmakers see this as a flip-the-coin type of game with slight Chicago advantage. Will the Bears clean up their linebacker coverage issues fast enough, or will Sunday become a cautionary tale of roster depth failures?