With the Bears already dealing with a slew of injuries, the last thing they need is more unavailable bodies. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what they’re getting: Defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. is going on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
#Bears roster move:
We have placed DE Mario Edwards Jr. on Reserve/COVID-19.— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) December 13, 2021
Edwards, 27, joins offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson as active Bears on the COVID reserve list. Wilkinson has been unavailable since going on the virus list on Nov. 26 after the Bears beat the Lions on Thanksgiving. That trip represented Wilkinson’s third time in COVID protocols this season.
If Edwards enters protocols having taken a COVID-19 vaccine shot, he won’t have to go through a 10-day isolation period and could be back with the team later in the week. But unvaccinated players are subject to stricter protocols. You can read about them here, if you so choose.
As for Edwards, the football player, he has played 182 defensive snaps (29%) over nine games this season. He has has 1.5 sacks, 1 tackle-for-loss, and 4 quarterback hits to show for his efforts. The Florida State product is in his second year with the Bears and in Year 1 of a three-year deal that was put together last March. Edwards provides depth to a defensive line that has been without Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks for parts of the 2021 season. And with Hicks being out since the Bears came back from the bye, and Khyiris Tonga nursing a shoulder injury, the Bears could use as many healthy bodies as they can get. In other words, they are in a tough space dealing with injuries and COVID issues.
Hopefully, this isn’t the first of another (yes, another) in-house outbreak. Because, as we’ve seen with the Bulls, it can be problematic on so many levels.