There was news to be thankful for on Thanksgiving for the Bears secondary.
Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson and nickel back Kyler Gordon both were activated off injured reserve and are listed as questionable for Friday's road game against the Eagles after practicing without limitations Wednesday.
Johnson has been limited to one game this season due to two different groin injuries, the second of which required surgery. He returned to practice Nov. 14, opening a 21-day window to activate him off IR.
Gordon missed the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury. He played in back-to-back wins over the Commanders and Saints but has been sidelined since suffering calf and groin injuries in practice during Week 7. He returned to practice Nov. 19.
The Bears have been gradually easing both Johnson and Gordon back into action.
"I just I go back to the moment we started practicing them," coach Ben Johnson said Wednesday. "It was with the big picture in mind: 'How do we acclimate them, make sure that we're putting them in a good spot?' Throughout the course of the weeks of practice, we've been able to slowly increase the rep count there. And we'll be very mindful of that when we do get them up and going in a game. We don't want to throw them to the wolves or put them in a bad spot. That's all been talked about, and we have a plan for it."
While the defensive backfield is getting healthier, the Bears will face the Eagles without their four top linebackers. Tremaine Edmunds (groin) was placed on injured reserve last week and T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Noah Sewell (elbow) and Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder) have been ruled out of the game.
For the second week in a row, the Bears are expected to rely on linebackers D'Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga, both of whom established career highs with 15 and 14 tackles, respectively, in last Sunday's 31-28 win over the Steelers. The 15 tackles are more than Jackson recorded in either of his first two NFL seasons with the Saints when he compiled 12 in 2023 and 14 in 2024.
"I'll be prepared," Jackson said. "[It's] no different than any other week for me, mentally just preparing like I'm going to be a starter, taking practice reps like game reps."
Two Bears who were injured against the Steelers have been ruled out versus the Eagles: defensive end Dominique Robinson (concussion) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip). Guard Luke Newman (foot) was placed on IR Thursday after also getting hurt against Pittsburgh.
Running backs Kyle Monangai (knee) and Travis Homer (hamstring/knee), offensive tackle Theo Benedet (quad) and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (hand) were not given injury designations Thursday, meaning they are expected to play.
