As the Chicago Bears prepare to face a crucial two-game stretch against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, the injury landscape around the league has shifted in a way that quietly, and surprisingly, benefits Chicago. The Bears still need to navigate through their own injuries, but key injuries in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are shaping major competitive advantages at the right time for the Bears.
How the Injury News is Quietly Helping the Bears
Jaylon Johnson’s Return is Near, but Chicago is Staying Cautious
Eyebrows went up last Friday when star cornerback Jaylon Johnson returned to practice for the first time since undergoing core muscle surgery. His sudden reappearance, accompanied by a “limited” participation tag and a questionable designation for Sunday, sparked hope that he might be ahead of schedule. But the Bears did the right thing by downgrading him to out a day later. Unlike Baltimore’s recent injury-report debacle with Lamar Jackson, Chicago played this one by the book.
The real question is when the two-time Pro Bowler will truly be ready.
Johnson has missed two months and had already been sidelined throughout training camp and the preseason. That’s a massive amount of time away from football conditioning and contact practice.
If Johnson isn’t ready for the Steelers this week, there’s still hope that he returns Week 13 against Philadelphia or Week 14 at Lambeau. With the Eagles’ matchup coming on a rare Friday game, the practice schedule could be altered (more walk-throughs, fewer high-intensity reps). That makes the timing interesting but also makes Johnson’s return even more valuable.
Especially when the Bears’ secondary is dealing with multiple injuries.
#Bears Friday Injury Report pic.twitter.com/b65q9a8KuH
— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) November 14, 2025
Bears’ Kryptonite Might Not Suit Up
Another huge development comes from the Bears’ opponent next week. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered what is feared to be a “slight break” in his non-throwing wrist. Rodgers left Sunday’s game against Cincinnati and did not return, and he will undergo additional testing to determine his timetable.
Even if the injury isn’t season-ending, it’s hard to see Pittsburgh rushing him back on the field, despite Rodgers ‘pushing to play’ in the game against Chicago. For the Bears, it could be a major break, considering what Rodgers has done to them over the years.
A Mason Rudolph-led group becomes far more favorable.
“He is pushing to play in this game.”
Aaron Rodgers is trying to play next week despite his left wrist injury, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/roD47AW0i0
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 17, 2025
It also brings up how valuable having a good backup quarterback is in the NFL. The Bears recently played Spencer Rattler (benched for Tyler Shough), Tyler Huntley (backup), Joe Flacco (traded midseason to Cincinnati after Joe Burrow’s injury), a quarter-and-a-half of Russell Wilson, and now potentially Rudolph.
Eagles Suffer a Gigantic Loss
Meanwhile, the Eagles suffered a major blow: six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson went down with a Lisfranc injury. While it’s not season-ending, the injury could land him on injured reserve, knocking him out for the Bears matchup.
The Eagles’ offense is swirling with questions over the usage of star players like A.J. Brown and inconsistencies up front, and now has lost a superstar. For a Bears pass rush that has struggled to generate pressure, that absence could flip the matchup in Chicago’s favor.
Which means the Eagles/Bears alliance could end up in a shocking win for Chicago.
Main Image: Jeffrey Becker – Imagn Images
The post Seismic Injury News is Stacking Up in the Bears’ Favor appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.