Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright returned to practice Friday for the first time since injuring his right elbow in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. That could be a positive sign as the Bears prepare to take on the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
The team listed Wright as a limited participant Friday. He wore a brace on the elbow during practice. The Bears will practice one more time Saturday and release their final injury report.
Wright said his elbow bent funny Sept. 21 against the Cowboys. Initially he appeared to be in pain on the sideline, but he eventually returned to the game and finished out a 31-14 win.
“My arm kind of got caught,” Wright said.
Despite completing the game that day, Wright didn’t practice the following week, nor did he play in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Backups Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo played right tackle in his place.
Wright’s potential return, while not a sure thing, would be a big boost for an offensive line that could be poised to make a switch at left tackle. Benedet finished the Raiders game at left tackle, with coach Ben Johnson moving longtime starter Braxton Jones to the bench.
The Bears might be moving forward with Benedet, an undrafted rookie out of Canada a year ago, as the starting left tackle.
If the Bears do make that change, getting Wright back on the right side would provide some stability opposite Benedet. Wright, the No. 10 draft pick in 2023, had missed only one game in his NFL career before the Raiders game. He has started 36 of the last 38 games at right tackle.
On the other hand, if Wright is unable to play Monday, that could mean a starting opportunity for Trapilo at right tackle. If the Bears do open the game with Benedet and Trapilo, they would be starting a pair of tackles with one combined NFL start under their belts. For Trapilo, it would mark his first NFL start.
“The one thing I felt like, the moment wasn’t too big,” Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar said after Trapilo stepped in midway through the Raiders game. “He went in there and he performed, certainly against a good player (in Maxx Crosby). But I thought he held his own.”
The Commanders defense is among the best in the NFL at pressuring quarterbacks. Their 42.3% pressure rate ranks third behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos, per NFL Pro.
“It’s a really good front,” Roushar said. “They’ve got really good takeoff. The two inside guys are playing at a really high level.”
That would be defensive tackles Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw. With five sacks in as many games, defensive end Dorance Armstrong is tied for fourth in the NFL. If the Bears are starting two inexperienced tackles, it will be a tough test.
T.J. Edwards appears on track to return.
In other injury news, the Bears had one of their healthiest practices Friday since the start of the season. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) was the only non-participant.
Safety Jaquan Brisker (quadriceps) was a full participant after being listed as a non-participant on Thursday’s estimated injury report. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) was a full participant for a second consecutive day.
Edwards played 30 snaps in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions and otherwise has been sidelined. Given the Bears’ struggles on defense, his absence has been felt. Edwards ranked second on the team in combined tackles (129) and third in sacks (four) last season.
“T.J. is a smart, tough player,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “He’s been very productive here, and … with where we’ve been on defense, when you have a lot of moving parts, it makes it a little bit challenging. So hopefully we can get guys back, stay healthy and develop a little continuity in the group.”
Meanwhile, Austin Booker practiced in full for a second straight day, encouraging news for the second-year defensive end who has yet to play since suffering a knee injury in the preseason. Booker would need to be activated off injured reserve if he’s going to play Monday.
Allen said Booker is “a guy that can help us” improve what has been an ineffective pass rush.
Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and tight end Colston Loveland (hip) were listed as limited participants Friday, though both have said they’ll be ready to play Monday. Gordon is expected to make his season debut after missing the first four games.
Kicker Cairo Santos (right thigh) was a full participant for the second consecutive day. Other players listed as full participants included running backs Travis Homer (calf) and Kyle Monangai (thigh) and guard Jonah Jackson (rib). Homer, like Booker, would need to be activated off IR before he can play in a game.
