An avalanche of injuries last season swamped the Chicago Bears‘ defense. It started even before training camp and just kept going all season long. They couldn’t buy a break. Half of their projected starters missed at least half of the year. It was hoped that 2026 would be different. Sadly, the football gods aren’t feeling merciful. The tone was set early in training camp when high-priced free agent safety Coby Bryant suffered a knee injury. Subsequent surgery means he will be out for the next two months.
Things haven’t gotten better since. Two key defensive linemen, Austin Booker and Gervon Dexter, are now dealing with hamstring and groin issues, respectively. They won’t be in Tennessee for the preseason finale. Considering how questionable the depth is up front, that isn’t ideal.
However, it gets worse. During the joint practice with the Titans, the Bears saw two more key starters exit and not return. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson seemed to nurse an injury to his right arm while cornerback Tyrique Stevenson suffered a leg problem. Mercifully, Stevenson did eventually return, but his health was a question mark even before this.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
This is a nightmare scenario for the Chicago Bears defense.
Cornerback was supposed to be the strength of this team. Instead, injuries have made it a potential weakness. Remember, the Bears were already operating without Kyler Gordon, who has missed every practice since the offseason began. Now your other two projected starters are ailing. Depending on how bad it is, this team could be looking at a starting lineup of Malik Muhammad, Cam Lewis, and Josh Blackwell on opening day in Carolina. That is, unless Lewis has to replace Bryant at safety, in which case you’re looking at Jaylon Jones or Terell Smith.
Considering the state of the pass rush, that is a disaster in the making, no matter how clever Dennis Allen is at scheming. The only saving grace for the Chicago Bears defense at this point is that there are still a little over two weeks until the regular season begins. That gives guys enough time to rest and hopefully heal those injuries. At this point, the only goal for this team should be getting everybody to opening day. Starting the year on the road with a defense akin to Swiss cheese is asking for trouble.
The Bears are walking a very dangerous line.
At some point, one must ask if there is something flawed with their conditioning process. Having so many soft-tissue injuries suggests a flaw in the team’s conditioning and recovery process. If nothing else, this recent scare reinforces how tenuous the depth situation is for the Bears’ secondary. They did add Beanie Bishop as a free agent recently, but he will be suspended for the first three games of the season. Perhaps it might be prudent to add a little more veteran depth. Especially given the team’s recent luck.
Veterans like Tre’Davious White, Kenny Moore, and Adoree Jackson remain available. None of them are at their peaks anymore, but it isn’t crazy to think they can help in an emergency. Much will depend on the overall health status of Jaylon and Stevenson after practice concludes. If both can be counted on to be ready for the opener, the team may decide to stand pat. If not? Expect some kind of move in the next couple of days.
