Darnell Wright is preparing to play through a boatload of pain this season. The Chicago Bears right tackle is in a huge year, contractually speaking. After 2025, the Bears will have to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option, and until then, Wright will be playing with one good arm.
A player’s fifth-year option—always decided after their third season—is a significant milestone because it is fully guaranteed. If Wright continues to perform well, he’ll be earning just under $20 million for his fifth year, according to Over the Cap. Considering Wright has already missed time with an injury, concerns are understandable.
### Injury Update: Playing Through Pain
“Darnell Wright returned to action 22 days after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow,” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune wrote on October 14. “It’s an injury that would send a pitcher or quarterback to the doctor for Tommy John surgery. After receiving second and third opinions, according to a source, the belief is Wright will not require surgery. The plan, at least right now, is to allow the UCL to scar over.”
Wright is expected to wear a brace on his arm for the remainder of the season. The hope is that his power and strength won’t be diminished while playing with the brace.
### Reliable and Durable Over Three Seasons
Wright has proven to be a reliable and durable presence on the Bears’ offensive line. As a rookie, he started all 17 regular-season games and logged 1,127 offensive snaps — 99.6% of Chicago’s total — on his way to earning PFWA All-Rookie honors.
In his second season (2024), Wright played 1,021 snaps (around 90% of the offense’s plays) and started 16 games, missing only Week 10. This season, his elbow injury sidelined him in Week 4 against the Raiders, but he is already back and determined to finish out the season.
### Impact on the Field
Chicago’s pass protection has looked noticeably better in 2025. The Bears allowed zero sacks in their Week 3 win over Dallas while Wright anchored the right side of the offensive line. Additionally, the team’s running game broke out in their recent game against the Washington Commanders, with Wright playing a big role.
If Wright continues to perform well in the brace—just as he did against the Commanders—he should have no problem finishing the season strong and solidifying the Bears’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option.
### Looking Ahead: Contract and Recovery
Brad Biggs also noted, “If it turns out Wright requires a procedure to address the elbow after the season, the Bears would have a good amount of time to evaluate the situation before the fifth-year option deadline.”
A best-case scenario for all parties could be a multi-year contract extension, but there’s no deadline to push that kind of move. For now, Wright needs to prove he can play well with the brace on his arm to bolster his bargaining power.
On Monday, Wright played well, helping the Bears move the ball on the ground effectively. He is determined to put the elbow injury out of his mind as much as possible.
### Conclusion
Across three seasons, Wright has missed just two games, making him a constant presence on the Bears’ offensive line. Although he’ll be playing with a clear handicap for the remainder of the season—one that opposing teams will surely try to exploit—his mindset remains clear.
“It hurts. You just play through it.” That’s clearly Wright’s plan, and both he and the Bears are hoping it’s a winning one.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/chicago-bears/darnell-wright-elbow-injury-playing-brace/