Most of the attention has shifted to the regular season. Less than two weeks separate the Chicago Bears from their next effort to chase that elusive second Lombardi trophy. They made terrific progress last season, going 11-6, winning the division, and beating Green Bay in the playoffs. However, as head coach Ben Johnson said, it wasn’t good enough. They have to get better. Expectations are that the offense will be even more dangerous than it was last season as its array of young talent matures. The concerns lay on defense.

Tremaine Edmunds was cut. Gervon Dexter was traded. Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson left in free agency. Kyler Gordon is still injured. Coby Bryant is out until October. It’s hard to feel good about the state of things, and this doesn’t address the fact that the Bears still haven’t found a legitimate pass rusher to play opposite Montez Sweat. Austin Booker hasn’t practiced in weeks. He’s an unknown at best. That might explain why Dan Graziano of ESPN is hearing some interesting updates on Chicago.

The Chicago Bears are hunting the trade market for pass rush help.

“Don’t be surprised if … the Bears still trade for an edge rusher.

What I’m hearing: Chicago is thin on defense, especially on the back end. But it’s up front where the team is still looking for a strong edge presence opposite Montez Sweat. The Bears added veteran Marcus Davenport a couple of weeks ago, but that move doesn’t appear to be working out; they let Davenport go in their initial cut down to 53 players over the weekend before bringing him back on the practice squad. Bears GM Ryan Poles has been an active and aggressive trader in his time with the team, and he’ll turn over every rock he can looking for an impact player up front. The Bears’ health issues on defense might be more concentrated on the back end, but improving the pass rush would help the secondary, too.”

Ryan Poles is likely hoping an opportunity will open.

Right now, asking prices are too high. Pass rushers are always expensive. It is the nature of the position’s importance. The really good ones almost always go for at least a 1st round pick. Often more. That has been a price tag the Bears’ general manager has been unwilling to pay. The highest he ever went was a 2nd rounder for Sweat in 2023. That worked out well, but the situation was very unusual. It was fortunate timing as Washington was in the midst of an ownership change.

Such circumstances are unlikely to materialize again. That means the Bears will need some help in other ways. The most common in these situations is a team getting off to a bad start and deciding to sell off expensive contracts for draft capital. That means the Bears should be looking at teams that have a chance to not play well through the season’s first two months. Then you see if they have any rushers worth considering. From the Bears’ perspective, the Cardinals, Raiders, Giants, and Steelers are probably the ones to circle.

The Bears must also do their part.

Planning a potential move is great and all, but it won’t matter if the Chicago Bears aren’t winning. No team in its right mind would flip a valuable draft asset for a veteran player with a big contract if they have a losing record. The Bears must be in a position to contend for the playoffs by the beginning of November to justify such a move. There are reasons to feel confident that they should be. Head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams have consistently shown they can find ways to win.

They aren’t the problem. It all depends on the defense. Can it play even average football over that span? Health problems continue hovering around the group. They face no shortage of capable offensive opponents in September and October. Having to win constant shootouts is never easy in this league. Dennis Allen’s unit must find ways to contribute without relying on takeaways as they did last year.

Everybody knows the Chicago Bears stadium situation at this point. Thanks to a series of blunders on all sides, the team has found itself in a stalemate between Indiana and Illinois. On the one hand, Indiana offers enticing legislative perks and vast land for development. The problem is that it is mostly industrial waste. On the other hand, they already own some prime real estate in Arlington Heights, nestled in a quality suburb. Unfortunately, Illinois has been highly resistant to legislative assistance for property taxes and infrastructure.

Thus, the waiting continues.

Meanwhile, other teams that started their own projects later than the Bears have already begun construction on their stadiums. The Tennessee Titans are among them. Chicago visited Nashville for the preseason finale this past weekend. While the game was at the Titans’ old Nissan Stadium, the new stadium was nearby. According to Brad Biggs, several prominent Bears executives decided to make the trip down there for a chance to do some first-hand research.

“The next time the Bears travel to Nashville, they will play in the Titans’ new stadium. It’s being constructed right next to Nissan Stadium and is scheduled to be completed in the spring. The Bears had many executives on the trip. Presumably they got some information on the sprawling new building.”

The Chicago Bears might be seeking advice.

After all, Titans ownership had far more success negotiating their new stadium in Nashville than the Bears have. Granted, the political climates of Tennessee and Illinois are vastly different. Still, both projects are around $2 billion in cost. How is it that the Titans managed such a smooth process? At least those are the questions Kevin Warren and George McCaskey should be asking. Maybe the information they gather can be applied to their stalled process in Springfield.

As for the stadium itself, it certainly sounds interesting in design. It’ll have a translucent polymer roof, so the team can play in the sunshine without having to deal with the southern heat. There will be panoramic city-view patios and seating much closer to the field. No doubt the Chicago Bears might be interested in some of the ideas that will help attract fans to the venue. Improving the fan experience is a vital way to generate revenue. It is the entire reason the team started this saga.

There will be similar opportunities this season.

The Chicago Bears are among the first teams to play the Bills at their brand-new Buffalo stadium this year. No doubt that’ll be another opportunity to gather information. Reception from fans at that venue has been mixed regarding the overall atmosphere and experience. If the team is smart, they’ll take those lessons and apply them to their own stadium project once construction finally starts. Has the design changed since Warren revealed it years ago? Hopefully. The Bears need to think about something beyond cookie-cutter stuff.

This is the Bears after all. It is their first opportunity to build their own stadium. No more relying on leasing venues already established, like Wrigley Field and Soldier Field. Build something people will recognize immediately when they see it. Everybody knows what the Cowboys’ stadium looks like. Everybody knows what the Seahawks’ stadium looks like. The Bears belong in that conversation.

The Chicago Bears were surprised when Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman fell to the 25th pick in the 1st round of the draft. They felt his talent was to a point where he would go somewhere in the teens. Even as high as #12, depending on what Dallas wanted. They went with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Still, most experts pointed to the Minnesota Vikings at #18 as the obvious landing spot. The organization had just moved on from aging star Harrison Smith. Thieneman felt like an easy choice to replace him.

So you can imagine the shock when Minnesota opted to select Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks instead. While he had his share of fans in the draft community, many questioned whether he should even be a 1st rounder. His talent was obvious, but Banks already had lingering health concerns. It was feared that the team took way too big a risk on a player who might not reach his potential for some time. According to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, some in the Vikings’ building are already questioning the pick.

Passing on Dillon Thieneman already looks like a poor decision.

“After firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January, assistant G.M. Demitrius Washington and senior personnel executive Jamaal Stephenson were among the bigger names the franchise cut loose in June, more than a month after April’s draft. Some of the newer decision-makers now running the organization are questioning that group’s choice of defensive lineman Caleb Banks in the first round…

…When the Vikings selected Banks with the 18th pick of Round 1, it was a surprise to just about everyone in the scouting community. Most of the league thought that, if Banks was going to be a first-round pick, it would be in the final selections, not the middle of the frame. He was never a consistently dominant defender in college, and his conditioning was a concern to some teams- all red flags that made him a marginal round one prospect. By his own admission, Banks did not come to Vikings camp in shape…

…Sources tell me some in the front office believe the prior regime should’ve gone in a different direction with the 18th pick and feel Banks will not offer them the immediate impact needed. They have not been impressed with the lineman, as he’s been inconsistent on the field.”

The Bears didn’t make the same mistake.

By the sound of it, Minnesota was heavily focused on getting some defensive line help in this draft. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores insisted they go after pass rush support. Banks was apparently the best option on the board. This is often one of the traps NFL teams can fall into. They’re so desperate to plug needs that they can sometimes bypass a safer option to check that box. General manager Ryan Poles has stated on more than one occasion that this is a trap he tries hard not to fall into.

Remember, the Bears had serious defensive line concerns of their own. Not to mention left tackle problems. Everybody expected the team to focus on those areas. However, strong runs earlier in the 1st round at both positions left the talent pool thin. Rather than reach for someone not high on their board, they opted for the best player. That was Dillon Thieneman. Not only was he one of the best athletes in the entire class, but he also satisfied one of their key needs on defense.

Time will tell how good Thieneman is.

Will he be a star? Most likely not. Finding those types late in the 1st round is difficult. However, early signs at least indicate that Thieneman will be a solid starter. If his work ethic and talent mesh as many expect, he should be a core member of this defense moving forward. The fact that Minnesota is already having misgivings about Banks is a really bad sign. Let’s not forget that this team has been having serious trouble with their 1st-round picks lately. Lewis Cine was a bust. J.J. McCarthy already looks like a bust. Donovan Jackson underwhelmed at guard last season.

You can’t keep missing in the 1st round like this every year and expect there not to be consequences. So far, good coaching has masked the problem to a degree. However, there are limits. The Vikings finished last in the division last year for a reason. Their roster is great in some spots, but it’s weak in others. No doubt they’re hoping Kyler Murray can help with the biggest problem at quarterback. If Banks is as bad as they fear, fans may riot. Especially if Thieneman ends up being good.

Cornerback Kyler Gordon was the darling of the offseason last year. The Chicago Bears moved quickly to lock him up to a three-year extension worth $40 million. Few were prouder of that achievement than general manager Ryan Poles. Gordon was his first-ever draft pick. Handing him a second contract is a major victory. He never could’ve imagined how badly things would fall off a cliff. Since signing that deal, Gordon has missed 14 games. Now that he is on the PUP list, he will miss at least another four going into 2026.

Stances have steadily shifted from concern for Gordon’s health to outright belief that the cornerback is overplaying his issues. He isn’t committed to playing football anymore. Frustration inside Halas Hall is palpable. Head coach Ben Johnson gets annoyed every time Gordon’s name is mentioned. Some have started to wonder if the cornerback will even see the field if he does return. Poles was asked about the team’s expectations. His answer sent a crystal clear message.

Gordon might be done done.

“I don’t know. I would hope so, I still have hope there…

…Anytime you have an injury and you’re coming back from something, there’s discomfort you have to push through. And that’s what it comes down to. So we haven’t been able to get over that hump and we’re not progressing as fast as we’d like. That’s really all I have to say about that.”

What happened with Kyler Gordon?

That is incredibly difficult to answer because the man himself has not spoken. The Bears, for their part, have been careful not to call him out directly. At the same time, they haven’t tried overly hard to hide their frustration on the matter. We know the cornerback is reportedly dealing with a calf strain. If that is true, it must be a really bad one because it not only kept him out all summer but also the first month of the regular season. So either the injury is worse than anyone is letting on, or something else is happening that neither side wants to touch.

If you’re into rumors, there was one that popped up recently suggesting that Kyler Gordon isn’t as committed to football as you might think. Some have claimed he is a big-time lover of the nightlife. This has led to substance abuse problems. There is also an indication that he is more focused on his love of fashion than he is on football, which contributes to his reluctance to return.

There is no concrete proof of this, but the lack of clarity is letting such rumors run rampant. The Bears’ hardening stance on the cornerback certainly isn’t helping.

Intentional or not, Gordon’s time in Chicago might be over.

Keep in mind that Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen weren’t here when he was drafted. That was a different coaching staff. While both liked his talent, they had no personal input in his addition to the team or his extension. That lack of loyalty put him at much greater risk if things went sideways. As we’ve seen, they most certainly have. Even if Gordon does return this season, which doesn’t sound guaranteed, he may not have a job waiting for him. The Bears may not be able to cut him right now because of that contract, but they’re under no obligation to play him.

They’ve already been working rookie Malik Muhammad hard in the slot all summer. Veteran Cam Lewis also has experience there. The team is moving in a direction that suggests they’re thinking about life after him. Poles felt like that one person who might still defend Gordon amidst the turmoil. His comments on Tuesday sounded so resigned. So lacking in optimism. When that happens as a player, you’re almost always screwed.