Sanborn (concussion) is officially listed as out for Thursday's game versus the Patriots.
The Bears held only walk-through practices ahead of Thursday's contest, but Sanborn was estimated as a nonparticipant Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and he'll now miss his first game of the season in Week 7. Most of his snaps so far in 2026 have come on special teams, so Chicago will have to find a way to try to replace his production in that phase.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Dealing with concussion
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Sanborn (concussion) was estimated as a non-participant on the Bears' official injury report Tuesday.
Sanborn has now been estimated as a non-participant both of the last two days after Chicago held walk-through practices Monday and Tuesday. Unless he's able to practice in some capacity Wednesday, his odds of suiting up Thursday versus the Patriots don't look great.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Back with Bears
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Chicago signed Sanborn to the active roster Tuesday.
Sanborn signed a one-year deal to return to Chicago in mid-March but was released Sunday. However, the Bears had a quick change of heart and re-signed the veteran linebacker Tuesday. Sanborn will likely fill a rotational role on defense while also contributing on special teams.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Returning to Chicago
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The Bears signed Sanborn to a one-year deal on Wednesday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports
Sanborn is returning to Chicago, where he spent the first three years of his career before signing with the Cowboys for the 2025 campaign. The 25-year-old has seemingly recovered from the groin injury that landed him on Dallas' injured reserve last November and will likely serve in a depth role with the Bears during the upcoming campaign.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Shifts to IR
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Sanborn (groin) was placed on the injured reserve list Monday.
Sanborn had already been ruled out for Monday night's matchup against the Cardinals, but he'll now be forced to miss Dallas' next four games after being placed on IR. The Wisconsin product appeared in six games prior to injury, recording 34 total tackles and one pass defended. Expect Shemar James to operate as the Cowboys' top middle linebacker while Sanborn is sidelined.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Still working through groin injury
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Sanborn (groin) did not participate in Thursday's practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Sanborn was unable to play against the Broncos this past Sunday due to a groin injury, which he appeared to pick up late in the week or in pregame warmups. The injury prevented him from practicing Thursday, and he'll need to return to practice in at least a limited capacity over the next two days in order to have a chance at playing against Arizona on Monday.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Cleared to play vs. Washington
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Sanborn (concussion) does not have an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Commanders, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Sanborn was a full participant in the last two practices of the week. The 25-year-old linebacker has cleared the league's five-step concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's NFC East bout, and his return will mean less snaps on defense for Marist Liufau. Sanborn logged 34 tackles (16 solo) and one pass defense through the first five games of the season prior to his injury.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Full practice Thursday
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Sanborn (concussion) was a full participant at practice Thursday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Sanborn has now progressed from a limited participant Wednesday to a full go Thursday, but it's unclear if he's cleared concussion protocol quite yet. The linebacker will look to log another full practice Friday ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Commanders.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Remains unavailable Thursday
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Sanborn (concussion) did not practice Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Sanborn suffered a concussion in Week 5 against the Jets, and he has now opened the week unavailable at each of the team's first two practices of the week. If Sanborn is unable to go Sunday against the Panthers, Shemar James would stand to draw a start at middle linebacker in Week 6.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Won't return vs. NYJ
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Sanborn has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return Sunday against the Jets, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Sanborn went to the locker room with medical staff in the first half after taking a hit to the head, where he was diagnosed with a concussion after undergoing tests. Marist Liufau and Shemar James will see more work on defense for the second half in Sanborn's absence.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Being evaluated for concussion
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Sanborn is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Jets, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Sanborn was taken back to the locker room after taking a hit to the head, where he will undergo further tests for a concussion. Shemar James and Marist Liufau are in line to see more snaps at linebacker for as long as Sanborn is out of the game.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Team-high 11 tackles Sunday
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Sanborn racked up 11 tackles (six solo) and one pass defended in Sunday's 40-40 overtime tie with the Packers.
It's the first time this season that Sanborn has reached double digits in tackles, but so far he's enjoying the benefits of a starting role in a Matt Eberflus defense. Through four games, the former Bear has 32 tackles, only three behind the total he amassed over 17 regular-season contests in 2024 and about halfway to his career high of 65, set in 2023.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Leads way with seven tackles
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Sanborn finished Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Bears with seven tackles (three solo).
Sanborn has logged at least six tackles in each of the first three games of the regular season, and his 21 tackles is second most on the Cowboys behind Kenneth Murray (22). Sanborn started in 19 regular-season games over the first three years of his NFL career with the Bears, but the Wisconsin product has started in each of the first three games of the 2025 campaign. Next up is a home bout against the Packers on Sunday.
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Cowboys' Jack Sanborn: Gets six stops Thursday
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Sanborn recorded six tackles (two solo) during Thursday's 24-20 loss at Philadelphia.
Sanborn played a significant role in the Cowboys' season opener, playing 48 of their 63 defensive snaps, and he came away with a decent day on the stat sheet to show for it. It's not likely Dallas will see such a heavy dose of the run again in Week 2 when they host the Giants, so Sanborn could spend more time in coverage in that contest.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Notches sack
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Sanborn posted two tackles (one solo), including a sack, in the Bears' 19-13 loss to the Texans on Sunday.
With the Bears often playing with two linebackers on the field, Sanborn is often the odd man out. In this game, he played just 18 percent of the snaps, and Sanborn now has just two tackles on the season. The lack of playing time makes him difficult to count on in IDP leagues.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Listed as starting linebacker
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Sanborn is listed at the starting outside linebacker ahead of Noah Sewell.
After last year's Week 13 bye, Sanborn played fewer than 20 percent of the snaps in each contest. Prior to that time, the linebacker had a number of games in which he played elevated snaps when Chicago dealt with linebacker injuries. Since 2022, when Sanborn has been called upon to start, he has compiled high tackle totals, making him an excellent IDP in those cases. If the veteran can hold off Sewell for the starting role, Sanborn could be a sneaky IDP option.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Will take the field
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Sanborn (ankle) is active Sunday against the Lions.
Sanborn was unable to practice Friday, but he's feeling well enough to play Sunday. He should remain one of the Bears' starters at outside linebacker.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Surprises with big game
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Sanborn tallied eight tackles in the Bears' 30-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
Sanborn saw an elevated snap count when Tremaine Edmunds (knee) left the contest early. As became evident when Chicago traded away Roquan Smith last year, if Sanborn has to step in for Edmunds for any period of time, he'll be an instant starting IDP capable of churning out double-digit tackles in any given start.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Best game of season
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Sanborn registered eight stops in the Bears' 19-13 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
Sanborn is typically a part-time player, and this was the first game he recorded more than five tackles in a game. If his role begins to increase, his IDP value could rise quickly after we saw him post strong numbers near the end of the 2022 season.
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Bears' Jack Sanborn: Facing competition for starting job
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Sanborn may need to hold off Noah Sewell for the Bears' starting job at middle linebacker, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Sanborn was a high-impact IDP option when taking over the starting job when Roquan Smith was traded last year. During the Bears' first preseason game, Sanborn missed a couple tackles while Sewell has been been very impressive in camp. For now, it seems as if Sanborn has the No. 1 role, but there is a possibility that Sewell closes in on the job.
