INJURY UPDATE: Three Key Bears Starters Miss Wednesday Practice With Significant Injuries — Head Coach Ben Johnson Activates Two Stars Ahead of Showdown With Packers

Chicago, Illinois – December 4, 2025

The Chicago Bears sit atop the NFC at 9-3, but their hold on the conference’s No. 1 seed grew shakier on Wednesday. What was supposed to be a routine mid-week session instead delivered a gut punch: three major starters were absent due to significant injuries, casting doubt over Chicago’s readiness for its biggest game of the season against the Green Bay Packers.

The troubling DNP list featured:

• WR Rome Odunze (foot)

Odunze’s foot issue threatens his ability to separate in Ben Johnson’s timing-based passing scheme. Monangai — central to Chicago’s top-two rushing attack — still cannot put full weight on his injured ankle. Stevenson, in the middle of a breakout year, now faces a hip problem days before the Bears must defend one of the NFL’s most explosive passing offenses.

Yet amid the uncertainty, Johnson delivered a much-needed spark by activating two defensive stars who had missed the past two weeks:

• LB T.J. Edwards

Both returned to the field with encouraging movement, immediately lifting the defense as Chicago prepares to contain Jordan Love, who has been playing at an MVP-level pace.

Asked about navigating a week shaped by both setbacks and returns, Johnson offered a statement that instantly framed Chicago’s mindset heading into Week 14:

“You never get to choose when adversity hits — it always shows up when you least expect it. But you can choose how you stand up to it. And the guys who came back today… they reminded this entire team that we’re not just controlling our destiny, we’re capable of writing a chapter people didn’t think we could write.”

With Odunze, Monangai, and Stevenson all in jeopardy of missing Sunday, the Bears will rely heavily on roster depth, Johnson’s adaptability, and the poise of Caleb Williams.

Bears–Packers has always been historic. But this year, it may define the entire NFC. Chicago enters wounded — but determined to prove the story isn’t finished yet.