Eddie

Jackson

The report comes from ESPN Insider Adam Schefter. Jackson has been plagued by recurring foot issues since suffering a 2022 Lisfranc fracture but his excellent play in 2018-2019 yielded two-time Pro Bowl honors and a first-team All-Pro nod. He joins a talented Ravens safety unit that will hopefully allow him to safely play as a high-impact contributor. Despite the foot issues, Jackson recaptured some of his prior magic, producing the second-best forced incompletion rate (22.2 percent) of his career last year.

Jackson was a fourth-round pick of the Bears in 2017 and has started all 100 games he’s appeared in. The veteran appeared in 12 games last season due to a foot injury, totaling 37 tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception. A two-time Pro Bowler and 2018 All-Pro, Jackson will be 30 at the start of next season and has plenty to offer a team in need of help in the secondary. His release, coupled with that of guard Cody Whitehair, frees up nearly $21.5 million in cap space for the Bears.

Terrell Smith has also been ruled out while Jaquan Brisker was added to the injury report on Friday with a groin issue. He was listed as questionable. Chicago’s banged-up secondary will face either Aidan O’Connell or Brian Hoyer this week. Neither quarterback is a strong streaming option, but both Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams should get home in a good matchup.

Jackson and cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (hamstring) and Josh Blackwell (hamstring) have all been ruled out for Monday night’s Week 4 contest against the Broncos. An already bad secondary takes a significant hit as Jackson and Johnson are both starters for the Bears and will now be held out. The Bears will need to come up a solution to slow down a Broncos offense that’s ranked ninth in passing yards per game and 15th in EPA per dropback through the first three weeks.

Jackson left Week 2 with an injury and wasn’t able to suit up on Sunday against the Chiefs. If he was out on Monday, it would be a tough blow to a Bears secondary that has already struggled to start the year. CB Jaylon Johnson also missed practice with a hamstring injury, which further complicates Chicago’s ability to cover Jerry Jeudy and Marvin Mims if neither player is able to play on Monday night.

As if the Chiefs needed any more help in Week 3. They are 12.5 favorite against a floundering Chicago roster that is imploding before our eyes. With or without Jackson, expect the Bears to struggle to contain the best quarterback in the league.

Jackson left the medical tent and was seen on a cart with his left foot covered up, so his return appears unlikely. With Jaquan Brisker (illness) also leaving the game, the Bears are without their starting safeties, and it’s probably no coincidence that Baker Mayfield hit Mike Evans for 70 yards after both players left. It could be wheels up for this Bucs offense in the second half.

Jackson suffered a Lisfranc injury near the end of November. Bears coach Matt Ebefrlus said “He’s in really good shape for working with the rehab staff, and I want to commend those guys, the training staff, for getting him back.” While he was limited to individual drills on Tuesday and only made a handful of team reps on Wednesday, it looks like he’s on the right track to be a go when the Bears open training camp.

NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo reports Jackson is getting medical opinions but is considered out indefinitely with a dreaded Lisfranc injury. Jackson went down in the Bears’ Week 12 loss to the Jets and did not return to the contest. Losing Jackson -- who has four interceptions and 80 tackles this year -- would make a poor Chicago secondary even worse for the season’s final month. Fantasy managers streaming quarterbacks should certainly target the Bears defense whenever possible.

It was an immediate rule-out on what looked to be a devastating non-contact injury for the stalwart safety. The Bears were also down Jaquan Brisker and Dane Cruikshank left the game, meaning the Bears had only two healthy safeties for the rest of the game. Jackson’s season is likely over even with an optimistic diagnosis. He rebounded to a 72.6 PFF coverage grade in 2022 -- his best since 2018 -- but rebuilding teams do not often keep older safeties into their twilight years. Cutting Jackson would free up $7.5 million in cap space for 2023.