Why the Chicago Bears Roster Is Beginning the 2026 Season with Trouble
The quarterbacks and rookies for the Chicago Bears have officially reported to training camp, with the rest of the team scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. 2025 is officially in the past for the Bears, after having one of their best seasons in football since 2011. The expectations for this season are at an all-time high, with quarterback Caleb Williams at the helm. Unfortunately for Chicago, they are beginning the season with bad news that could potentially preview what some players' year could look like.
The Bears announced their first roster moves of the season, a long list that included some concerning updates. Cornerback Kyler Gordon is a part of the inactive list, still dealing with soft tissue injuries. Gordon missed nearly every game last season, playing in just three total. The injuries were believed to be behind him, but they’ve still managed to make their way to the beginning of the new season. The star corner missed all of OTAs as well, leaving a lot of questions as to whether or not he can be relied on this year. Linebacker T.J. Edwards is also not physically ready to go for training camp, another huge blow to the Bears defense. The speedy linebacker suffered a fractured fibula in the playoffs last season, sidelining him for the Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams. Edwards was trending towards being ready for training camp, but a setback will delay his return. The expectation is he’ll be ready to go in Week One, as the Bears will need that major part of the defense.
Offensively, just one player is sidelined for training camp. Offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in the Wild Card victory against the Green Bay Packers, and has been on a long road to recovery since. The rookie is expected to be out for the majority of 2026, and potentially the entire season if the injury doesn’t progress well. Trapilo was recently spotted working on strength and conditioning, a great sign that he’s healing quickly and preparing to return at some point this season. The list of injured players also includes three more men on defense, the injury bug mainly affecting that side of the ball for Chicago. While not an ideal start to the season, things could be a lot worse for the team, which remains healthy on offense. The injuries should be closely monitored, as the 2026 season is quickly approaching.
