Bears May Have Lost Eddie Jackson For The Year

NFL fans with experience know the warning signs. When a player goes down on the field without contact and is declared out of the game immediately, that is a really bad sign. Both happened to Eddie Jackson in New York, where he crumpled to the turn during the 2nd quarter, immediately grabbing for his left foot. He was taken to the blue medical tent, examined, and carted to the locker room. Minutes later, the team declared him out for the rest of the game. Putting the pieces together, it isn’t a stretch to think the star safety might be done for the year.

Further tests will be conducted. Based on the current evidence, it feels like the outcomes are one of two things. Either it’s a Lisfranc injury to his foot or a torn Achilles. Both are season-ending. The only hope Chicago Bears fans have is that it isn’t as severe as initially feared. Yet from the way Jackson reacted, it’s hard not to feel it is. It would be such a tough loss for a defense already reeling from injuries. Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon are out with concussions. Jaylon Johnson battled an oblique issue. Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith aren’t around anymore. Jackson was their best player and was in the middle of his best season since 2018.

Eddie Jackson injury clouds the Bears’ 2023 plans too.

If he is out for the rest of the year, it might force GM Ryan Poles to consider investing at safety. They can’t be sure if Jackson will return to his old form whenever he recovers from the injury. If nothing else, this makes the decision to draft Brisker look far smart with hindsight. He has played very well too. He can be the foundational piece for them if this development proves worse than feared. Alas, the Bears haven’t reached that point yet. They’ll spend the next 24-48 hours determining the severity.

One can only feel bad for Eddie Jackson. He’s been one of the few bright spots on an otherwise bad defense this year. People were looking forward to him and Brisker forming a nasty tandem in the next year or two as Poles rebuilt the front seven. Now that future looks murky at best. Another reminder that football can be a cruel sport at times. It gives and takes in equal measure.