The Chicago Bears got some concerning news on Tuesday as starting right tackle Darnell Wright left practice with a right elbow injury. After being checked on by medical evaluators, Wright was taken out for the rest of the session. What's most worrying is that it's the same elbow in which he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) last season.
He tore the UCL in Week 3 against the Cowboys but chose not to have surgery, instead playing through the injury for the rest of the season — well enough to earn second-team All-Pro honors. With just over two weeks to go before the 2026 season kicks off, it's not exactly the sight Bears fans were hoping for at this stage of preseason, especially given that Chicago just made Wright the highest-paid right tackle in NFL history. More news: Bears Involved in Trade Talks to Deal Key Defensive Starter More news: Browns’ Next QB Battle Set for Preseason Finale vs Patriots Wright agreed to a four-year, $116 million extension with the Bears in early August, including $93 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $29 million.
That puts him above players like Eagles All-Pro Lane Johnson ($25 million) and Vikings Pro Bowler Brian O'Neill ($24 million), among others. But the money was well-earned. Wright, the 10th overall pick in 2023, has started every game he's played in at the NFL level, missing only two games over that span, and has clearly proven his ability to play through injuries.
Last season, he earned an overall PFF grade of 81.4, which ranked 14th among qualified offensive tackles, and a run-blocking grade of 85.6, which ranked sixth. The Bears' offense under Ben Johnson is built on a strong run game, headlined by backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and Wright is a crucial part of that. No further details have been announced regarding the severity of Wright's injury, but safe to say any extended absence this far out from Week 1 would be devastating for Chicago.
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