Finding positive things to talk about for the Chicago Bears this season has been difficult. There has been lots of bad across the entire organization, mostly centered on the coaching, the defense, and the quarterback. However, there is one development worth talking about. Darnell Wright continues to show promise at the right tackle position. On Sunday, he faced a brutal challenge, facing the talented Kansas City Chiefs defensive front at Arrowhead Stadium. Unsurprisingly, he had a couple of rough moments, including one against star Chris Jones.
That said, the rookie conducted himself well for most of the game. Never was that clearer than against George Karlaftis. The Chiefs defensive end had six sacks last season and had 1.5 in the previous game. He was credited with eight pressures in this game. However, none seemed to come at the expense of Wright despite going against the rookie one-on-one no less than seven times. The rookie allowed only one pressure in 11 total one-on-one blocks on Sunday.
No rookie tackle this year has faced more one-on-one situations than Wright at 56. He has allowed only four pressures with no hits or sacks.
Darnell Wright deserves credit for his steady play.
It hasn’t been perfect. Anybody expecting that was delusional. He’s been given a rough hand, facing three quality defensive fronts right in a row, two of them on the road. On top of that, he has to block for a quarterback with a terrible tendency to hold the ball. One could understand if Wright crumbled under such circumstances. He hasn’t. The 10th overall pick continues to show that, with time, he can be a high-quality starter for this franchise for years to come. Whether they can find a quarterback who can take advantage of that is another story.
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People are second-guessing the pick already because of Jalen Carter. Yes, the defensive tackle has made some nice plays. He’s also playing on a loaded team, which makes his life easier. The same can’t be said for Darnell Wright. It seems like the deck is constantly stacked against him, but he finds a way to make it work. His battle against Karlaftis was a sign both of his talent and his mental toughness. With an upgraded coaching staff and a quarterback who can get the ball out on time, people may soon appreciate how good he is.
