Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson brings energy to joint practices with Indianapolis Colts — but then sits out reps after collision

Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson was putting on a show on a perfect Indiana night at the Grand Park Sports Campus.

The Bears had been looking forward to their joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts as a welcome break from the grind of training camp, and as the first-team defense tried to stop the first-team Colts offense, their energy was clear in front of a packed grandstand Wednesday.

Jackson, as he often is when he’s at his best, was a big part of that energy. He pulled down an interception against Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. He chirped at Colts players after cornerback Tyrique Stevenson made a big special teams play. And he made a big play on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. with a pass breakup — but that play put a damper on the end of his day because he sat out the final few reps of practice.

“Eddie’s just doing what Eddie does, flying around there and making plays,” nickel back Kyler Gordon said. “I turn my head and he was flying toward the ball and blew the play up immediately.

“That’s what Eddie Jackson’s done his whole career. He brings more energy and hype to the defense, and everyone is looking to do the same thing. We feed off that.”

The Colts named Richardson, the No. 4 draft pick this spring, their starting quarterback over Gardner Minshew on Tuesday. A day later, the Bears defense gave Richardson occasional fits.

That included stopping the Colts short on the two-minute drill to end practice, though Richardson marched them down the field pretty easily in their four-minute offense in his second-to-last reps of the day.

The Bears defense had two of its best plays in seven-on-seven work on back-to-back passes by Richardson.

First, Jackson intercepted Richardson’s pass intended for wide receiver Josh Downs. Then, linebacker T.J. Edwards made a diving play to break up a pass intended for tight end Kylen Granson.

“Overall it’s good to go on someone else’s own field and really get those jitters out, feel the crowd, feel the energy, find yourself, collect yourself and produce,” Gordon said. “I feel like that’s what this day was today. Everyone came out here and responded in the right way.”

Jackson originally was scheduled to speak to the media after practice, but he didn’t.

He came off the field late in the session after colliding with Pittman near the sideline. He was slow getting up and didn’t return for the last few plays for the first-team defense. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams said he assumed Jackson was OK.

“I always assume the positive until they tell me different,” Williams said. “So right now I’ll say yes.”

Jackson did not take part in Thursday’s second joint practice with the Colts.

The Bears certainly don’t want to be without Jackson, who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury last year, especially as the defense got a little closer to being full strength Wednesday night.

Defensive end DeMarcus Walker rejoined practice for the first time in two weeks. Along with newcomer Yannick Ngakoue ramping up on the other side, the Bears finally can field their first-team defensive line.

But middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jaquan Brisker, two important pieces, remained out with injuries. The Bears finished Wednesday’s practice with backups Elijah Hicks and A.J. Thomas at safety.

In part because of those absences, Williams said he isn’t able to fully assess where the defense is as the Bears near their second preseason game Saturday against the Colts in Indianapolis.

“I can’t answer that question now because we have guys that are starters that aren’t in there,” Williams said. “So I’m looking forward to our guys getting healthy so we can jell. I don’t know just yet.”

Against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, Williams would have liked to have seen better run defense. But he liked the Bears’ eight sacks and four takeaways. And he likes how the “tight-knit group” is coming together.

Bears defensive players have talked up the edge they’re bringing to practices. Or as Gordon phrased it, “a lot of loudmouths on our team.” Stevenson was among the players who showed that edge Wednesday, delivering a hit against gunner Tony Brown on punt protection and then igniting the trash talk, including from Jackson.

Williams said he encourages that feistiness, as long as Stevenson can keep it under control.

“What I value most is production. What I value most is hustle. What I value most is getting lined up,” Williams said. “And then the extra stuff, I want guys to bring their personality but make sure that personality, that feistiness, is within the bounds of how we play.

“Because part of our HITS principle is being smart, having self-control. So I love the feistiness, I love the grit, I love how he (competes), the physicalness. I just want to make sure it’s between the whistles, and if it is, I’m all for it.”

The Bears had another chance to walk that line Thursday. Getting Jackson back in the mix soon certainly would help them bring the edge.