Elijah Hicks Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Steelers vs Bears game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Jul 31, 2025
Healthy at training camp
Hicks (shoulder) is practicing at Bears training camp, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Hicks missed the final two games of the regular season last year but is now healthy. The 25-year-old safety logged 40 tackles (24 solo), two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries across 12 regular-season contests in 2024. He's competing for a backup safety job behind Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens in Chicago.
Jan 6, 2025
Misses five games in 2024
Hicks missed the last two games of the season with an ankle injury. He ended the season with 40 tackles in 12 games.
ANALYSIS
Hicks was the starting strong safety for the Bears until suffering an ankle injury in Week 11. Once he returned to action in Week 15, Jonathan Owens had taken over the starting job, which limited Hicks to 10 snaps in Weeks 15-16. Another ankle injury ended the season early for Hicks. The veteran is under contract with the Bears through next season.
Jan 3, 2025
Won't play Sunday
Hicks (ankle/foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Packers.
ANALYSIS
Hicks' absence in Week 18 comes as no surprise, as the third-year pro was unable to practice throughout the week due to ankle and foot injuries. The 25-year-old appeared in 12 games for the Bears this season, recording 40 total tackles and two passes defended. Jonathan Owens is expected to serve as Chicago's top strong safety with Hicks and Jaquan Brisker (concussion) sidelined Sunday.
Jan 2, 2025
Doesn't practice Thursday
Hicks (ankle/foot) was listed as a DNP on Thursday's injury report.
ANALYSIS
Hicks has been unable to play or practice since Week 16 due to ankle and foot injuries. He'll likely to be ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Packers unless he returns to practice in at least a limited capacity Friday.
Dec 25, 2024
Sidelined by ankle injury
Hicks (ankle) won't play in Chicago's matchup versus Seattle on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Hicks' absence shouldn't come as a surprise as he was listed as a participant in practice throughout the week. This will be the fourth game the 2022 seventh-round pick will miss this season, and Adrian Colbert should see increased usage in his absence.
Dec 24, 2024
Opens Week 17 with two DNPs
Hicks (ankle/foot) was estimated as a non-practice-participant in walkthroughs both Monday and Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Hicks hurt his ankle Week 11 against the Packers and sat out Chicago's following three games. The third-year safety returned Week 15 versus Minnesota and also suited up this past Sunday versus Detroit, but he may have aggravated the injury. If Hicks can't play Thursday versus Seattle, Adrian Colbert -- who was signed to the active roster Tuesday -- may be asked to log snaps on defense for the first time this season.
Dec 14, 2024
Slated to suit up Monday
Hicks (ankle) does not have an injury designation for Monday's Week 15 matchup versus Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
Hicks missed each of Chicago's past three games due to an ankle injury, but he logged an LP/LP/FP practice progression this week and will return for Monday's game against the Vikings. The third-year safety moved into a starting role Week 6 and logged 100 percent of the Bears' defensive snaps in each of the team's subsequent four contests. With Hicks back in action Monday, Jonathan Owens may move back to a rotational role.
Dec 12, 2024
Listed as limited Thursday
Hicks (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's walkthrough practice.
ANALYSIS
Hicks hasn't played since Week 11 due to a lingering injury, but Thursday's walkthrough session marks his first time since suffering the ankle issue being listed as more than a non-participant at practice. The starting safety will have two more opportunities to further upgrade his practice level prior to Monday's road matchup against Minnesota.
Dec 6, 2024
Ruled out for Week 14
Hicks (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
ANALYSIS
Hicks is set to miss his third straight game due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Packers in Week 11. Jonathan Owens is slated to make his third-straight start at strong safety Sunday due to Hicks' injury.
Dec 4, 2024
DNP on Wednesday
Hicks (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
The third-year pro from California has missed each of the Bears' last two games due to an ankle injury, and Wednesday's DNP suggests that he's still nursing the issue. Hicks likely needs to upgrade to at least limited practice participation Thursday or Friday in order to return for the Bears' Week 14 matchup against the 49ers.
Nov 27, 2024
Won't play at Detroit
Hicks is out for Thursday's game against the Lions.
ANALYSIS
Hicks will miss his second straight contest in Week 13 as he continues to work through an ankle injury he suffered in Week 11 versus the Packers. In his stead, Jonathan Owens projects to start at safety again Thursday.
Nov 22, 2024
Out for Week 12
Hicks (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
Hicks has started each of the last five games at safety for the Bears after Jaquan Brisker (concussion) was placed on injured reserve. Jonathan Owens is next up on the depth chart at safety for the Bears alongside Kevin Byard.
Nov 20, 2024
Still sidelined
Hicks (ankle) will not practice Wednesday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Hicks suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to the Packers and still appears to be dealing with the effects of it. He'll still have the opportunity to get on the field Thursday and Friday ahead of Sunday's divisional matchup with the Vikings.
Nov 19, 2024
Rolled ankle versus Packers
Hicks rolled his ankle in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Packers, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
The injury likely occurred late in the game, as Hicks logged 37 defensive snaps (86 percent). He finished the contest with four tackles (two solo). This news comes on the same day the Bears worked out five safeties, which indicates this injury should be monitored going forward. If the strong safety ultimately misses any time, Tarvarius Moore would be the likely candidate to replace him.
Nov 4, 2024
Tallies seven stops
Hicks logged seven tackles (four solo) during Chicago's loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Hicks' seven tackles were tied for the most on the team as he once again got the start at safety as Jaquan Brisker (concussion) remains sidelined. If Brisker is able to return Week 10 versus the Patriots, Hicks will likely be relegated to a backup role.
Oct 9, 2024
Slated for starting role
Head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Hicks would start at strong safety against the Jaguars on Sunday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Hicks will be the next man up with Jaquan Brisker (concussion) already ruled out for Sunday. The former saw his first snaps on defense this season in Week 5 when he took over for Brisker and recorded two solo tackles. The California product isn't necessarily a stranger to starting though, handling that role eight times in his previous two seasons with the Bears.
Jan 13, 2024
Concludes second season in Chicago
Hicks finished the 2023 season playing in 17 games, resulting in 35 tackles.
ANALYSIS
After playing 164 snaps as a rookie, Hicks saw his role expand to 467 snaps in his second year with the Bears. Between Weeks 3 and 9, he was a full-time player, recording between three and six tackles in each game. However, from Week 10 on, he didn't play more than two snaps in any game. Smith has two years remaining on his contract, and he'll likely enter the 2024 season as a backup safety.
Jun 7, 2023
Returning to form
Hicks (concussion) has been participating throughout Chicago's OTAs, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Hicks suffered a concussion during the Bears' 2022 season finale but has since moved past the issue. The 2022 seventh-round pick started in two of his 15 appearances last year, filling in for Jaquon Brisker and Eddie Jackson, playing mainly as a special teamer. Barring any setbacks, the 23-year-old will most likely serve as a backup safety and continue to play on special teams this upcoming season.
Jan 8, 2023
Will not return
Hicks suffered a concussion during Sunday's game against the Vikings and will not return, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Hicks' rookie season will end a little early with the injury. He'll finish his first NFL campaign with 14 games played, 17 tackles (nine solo) and a fumble recovery while mostly contributing on special teams.
Apr 30, 2022
Goes to Chicago
The Bears selected Hicks in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 254th overall.
ANALYSIS
Hicks, a California product, had a career-high 72 tackles as a fifth-year senior in 2021. He showed a nose for the ball, too, as he forced four fumbles in 12 games. Hicks did not receive a combine invite and will start his career on the fringe of the Bears' roster.
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