Hicks missed the last two games of the season with an ankle injury. He ended the 2024 campaign with 40 tackles (24 solo), two passes defensed and two fumble recoveries in 12 games.
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.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Hicks (ankle/foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Packers.
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.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Doesn't practice Thursday
Rotowire
Hicks (ankle/foot) was listed as a DNP on Thursday's injury report.
Hicks has been unable to play or practice since Week 16 due to ankle and foot injuries. He'll likely be ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Packers unless he returns to practice in at least a limited capacity Friday.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Opens Week 17 with two DNPs
Rotowire
Hicks (ankle/foot) was estimated as a non-practice-participant in walkthroughs both Monday and Tuesday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Listed as limited Thursday
Rotowire
Hicks (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's walkthrough practice.
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.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Ruled out for Week 14
Rotowire
Hicks (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
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.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Injures ankle Sunday
Rotowire
Hicks rolled his ankle in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Packers, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Slated for starting role
Rotowire
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.
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, as he's handled that role eight times in his previous two seasons with the Bears.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Elijah Hicks: Concludes second season in Chicago
Rotowire
Hicks finished the 2023 season playing in 17 games, resulting in 35 tackles.
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. Hicks has two years remaining on his contract, and he'll likely enter the 2024 season as a backup safety.
