The Bears knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Grady Jarrett in March—and the veteran defensive tackle has been all of what they expected and more.
The 11th-year pro joined the Bears after playing his first 10 NFL seasons with the Falcons.
"He is wired the way we want our entire team wired," said coach Ben Johnson. "I felt that from his first press conference here all the way [until] now."
"He's huge," added defensive end Montez Sweat. "Grady is like the glue to everything. Besides what he does on the field physically, he gets us lined up, he sets the games for us. He's just an amazing leader for us."
Evidence of Jarrett's leadership ability came before he had played a regular season game with the Bears when he was voted a co-captain by his new teammates. More than four months later, those same players are leaning on Jarrett's experience as they prepare for Sunday's divisional playoff game against the Rams.
"Grady has the most playoff experience on the line," Sweat said of Jarrett, who appeared in five postseason games with the Falcons, including Super Bowl LI. "He's been there and done it. He understands what it looks like and what it takes. We just respect him as a leader and trust his leadership."
"When he speaks, you listen," added cornerback Jaylon Johnson. "He's been through a lot, he's seen a lot. He has a lot of experience, and he's played the game at a high level. So, he has a ton of respect throughout this building and the locker room."
Ben Johnson is pleased with how Jarrett's presence has impacted his teammates.
"These young players are coming along," said the Bears coach, "they're developing, and his playoff experience and these big games he's been a part of [in] his career, I do think that translates and really hits home with a lot of our guys."
Next man up
The Bears will host the Rams without linebacker T.J. Edwards, who will miss the rest of the playoffs after suffering a fractured fibula in last Saturday night's thrilling 31-27 wild card win over the Packers.
Edwards missed seven regular-season games with injuries after playing in every game each of the previous four years with the Eagles (2021-22) and Bears (2023-24).
"I've got a ton of respect for T.J.," said linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who signed with the Bears in 2023, the same year as Edwards. "He's been fighting all year. It's just been one of those types of years where God has got a bigger plan for him.
"I know there's nobody else on the team, nobody else in the world who'd want to be out there with his guys more than him. We talk every day. That's my brother. We came in together and just the bond and relationship we've built with one another, I feel that for him, just because I know how much work he put into it.
"But I do know that a guy like that is going to bounce back from it. He handles adversity the best that I've seen and I've got a lot of respect for him and definitely praying for a speedy recovery."
Ozzy out
Rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo also will sit out the remainder of the playoffs after sustaining a patellar tendon injury against the Packers. The second-round pick from Boston College started the last six regular-season games.
"We were bummed to see Ozzy get hurt," said center Drew Dalman. "A great guy, great teammate and player that showed up ready to go. It's unbelievably hard to step in as a rookie and play, particularly at left tackle. Him handling that, I feel like it was a really good piece for the O-line and good for the culture."
Statistically speaking
The Bears' incredible comeback win over Green Bay was impressive on the stat sheet. Among the 14 NFL teams that played in the wild card round, they ranked No. 1 in total yards (445), passing yards (361), pass attempts (48), sacks allowed (tied with 1), first downs (24), punt-return average (21.3 yards) and field-goal percentage (tied at 100).
Injury update
For the second straight day Thursday, defensive back Nick McCloud (groin) did not practice and receivers DJ Moore (knee) and Rome Odunze (foot) were limited.
Full participants included offensive tackle Braxton Jones (knee), defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion), linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin (back) and Amen Ogbongbemiga (concussion) and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion).
