The Bears defense received a major boost Friday when veteran safety Eddie Jackson was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The new roster designation was created this year for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or who have been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person.
Players can be re-activated after testing negative for the virus twice during a five-day period. Jackson was placed on the list Monday. Now that he's back on the active roster, he's expected to start Sunday night in Green Bay.
Jackson was selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2017 draft out of Alabama. He has started all 56 games he has played in four seasons, registering 242 tackles, 10 interceptions, 28 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
Jackson was chosen to the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons and was voted first-team All-Pro in 2018 when he helped the Bears win the NFC North title with a 12-4 record. His six career defensive touchdowns are tied for the third most in franchise history with Lance Briggs behind only Charles Tillman (9) and Mike Brown (7).
This season Jackson has recorded 58 tackles, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, which he returned eight yards for a touchdown in a Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Jackson has missed just two games in four seasons with the Bears; the final two contests in 2018 with an ankle injury he sustained while returning an Aaron Rodgers interception in a division-clinching win over the Packers.
Shortly after the 2019 season ended, the Bears signed Jackson to a four-year contract extension through 2024.
