Chicago Bears fans pretty much shrugged when the team signed Jahdae Walker. The wide receiver wasn’t exactly a household name in college. He’d been a decent player for Texas A&M, but never what anyone would call a go-to guy. In 26 games, he had 64 catches for 935 yards and 4 touchdowns. Nothing about that screamed somebody who’d make it in the NFL. That was why it was a minor surprise when he put together an impressive preseason as a rookie, claiming a roster spot.

It was an even bigger surprise when he became one of the team’s unheralded heroes by catching a touchdown in the 4th quarter to tie Green Bay. This forced overtime, which the Bears would go on to win, cementing their eventual division title. If that were the extent of Walker’s time in Chicago, fans would be happy with it. However, it’s becoming apparent the wide receiver isn’t just a fluke. He has put together a terrific training camp and provided another memorable highlight in the preseason.

Jahdae Walker might be a legitimate find for the Bears.

We’re not talking about a bottom-of-the-depth-chart guy who might give you a couple of nice catches in a season. He looks like somebody who could play significant snaps. His size, hands, and underrated speed make him a threat. It is pretty clear that head coach Ben Johnson and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El have had a significant impact on his development. Walker looks nothing like the player he was coming out of college. He’s playing with confidence and much better technique.

This isn’t the emergency guy anymore. Jahdae Walker looks like the Bears’ #4 wide receiver in this offense, with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Kalif Raymond ahead of him. That means much more than some may realize. Johnson’s offense likes spreading the ball around. The fourth-most targeted receiver last season was Burden with 60 targets. Walker was targeted 10 times last season for 87 yards. That would come out to 522 yards if he were to get 60 targets—pretty good production for an undrafted receiver.

The Bears always seem to have some undrafted magic at receiver.

Every so often, the team seems to unearth a player out of nowhere who becomes a legitimate threat in the passing game. You had Dennis McKinnon in the 1980s, Tom Waddle in the 1990s, Rashied Davis in the 2000s, and Cameron Meredith ever so briefly in the 2010s. Plenty of previous undrafted receivers have come through the doors in the past few years, but none have managed to stick. Walker looks ready to assume that mantle. He has the ability and the growing trust of the coaching staff.

If you follow Bears history, team success often follows when they start landing hits in the undrafted market. Walker’s arrival isn’t just a great story in its own right; it also signals that the franchise might be entering another boom period. Anything he produces moving forward is pure profit for the Bears. Walker is that unexpected $20 bill you find in your coat pocket. Now the team gets to go spend it however they want.

The Chicago Bears got their most important piece of business done this past month when they locked up right tackle Darnell Wright to a contract extension. He is now under contract for the next five seasons, solidifying the anchor of their offensive line. With that, most people presumed that the team was done with any extension talks until next year. That is, unless they decided to work out a deal with defensive tackle Gervon Dexter or cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Neither felt likely given their shaky status with the coaching staff. However, it appears another name is gaining steam: D’Andre Swift.

That may seem odd at first. It’s easy to forget the running back is in the last year of his current deal. Most probably assumed the team would see how this season plays out and decide what to do then. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears might be considering a less dramatic approach.

“If a deal is to be done before the Sept. 13 opener at Carolina, D’Andre Swift is the player to keep an eye on. Swift is entering the final year of the three-year, $24 million contract he signed in free agency in 2024.

Swift could go from being a player who a lot of folks wondered might not be a fit for new coach Ben Johnson to emerging as a building block for the near future.”

Swift had the best season of his career in 2025, posting career highs with 1,087 yards and 9 touchdowns. He’s also just 27 years old. His 1,069 carries are also on the lower end for a running back his age. Usually it’s somewhere between 1200 and 1400. So he has more tread on the tires than normal.

D’Andre Swift has helped his case in training camp.

By all accounts, the running back has looked fantastic. He’s in great shape, looks as fast as ever, and is meshing with Ben Johnson’s system like peanut butter with jelly. Optimism has never been higher. Rather than worry about finding alternatives next year, the Bears may feel like they like their running back room as is. The duo of Swift and Kyle Monangai produced the #3 rushing attack in the league last season. Why mess with that when they can devote their resources to more pressing positions?

It’s not like the extension will be overly expensive. D’Andre Swift is set to make $8 million this season. He’ll probably be looking for around $12 million per year, which is what Travis Etienne and Josh Jacobs are currently making. That provides a nice $4 million pay raise and still keeps Swift in a manageable cap situation for the Bears. A two-year extension would maintain three years of control, with the deal expiring before his 30th birthday, when running backs usually start winding down.

Swift is one of Ryan Poles’ free agent success stories.

Make no mistake, the Bears’ general manager has a rough track record with lots of his deals on the veteran market. However, his signing of the running back, which many called too expensive at the time, turned out to be a major hit for the team. The same was true of safety Kevin Byard. Give the man credit. Landing a quality running back in free agency and then keeping him long enough to extend is exceedingly rare. In fact, no one the Bears have signed ever accomplished that feat. Thomas Jones came the closest in the mid-2000s, but he was traded to New York before it could happen.

If there is an extension, it will likely occur before opening day next month. The Bears won’t want to conduct such business during the season. If nothing materializes, expect talks to re-engage after the season concludes early next year. Presuming Swift stays healthy and has another productive season, he’ll be in line to get that final big payday many veterans aren’t lucky enough to land, especially at his position.

The Chicago Bears have gotten some good news on the injury front lately. Dayo Odeyingbo looks healthy after recovering from his torn Achilles tendon last season. Ozzy Trapilo returned to practice far ahead of schedule and should end up playing sometime in the first half of the season. However, one mystery has persisted throughout the past month. Where is Shemar Turner? Since tearing his ACL last season, there have been almost no updates on his recovery. When he didn’t return close to the same time as Odeyingbo, it raised questions.

ACL injuries usually take nine months to recover from. Turner tore his in late October of last year. That means he probably should’ve been back by now, or at least getting closer to returning. Instead, it’s been radio silent. The first hint that things weren’t progressing as hoped was when the Bears signed veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport. That went against the team’s original statement that they wished to wait things out until Odeyingbo and Turner got back. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune finally dropped the other shoe.

Shemar Turner won’t be back for up to two months.

There’s no risk in the addition of Davenport on a one-year, $1.3 million contract. None of the money is guaranteed. Yes, he’s familiar with Allen and had some success playing for him with the Saints. Knowing the scheme helps a little, but let’s not make that into too much. A defensive end has to beat the offensive tackle across from him to get to the quarterback.

If the move works out for the Bears, Davenport could join a rotation in which he logs between 20 and 25 snaps a game. If he’s a depth addition that provides even a little bit of juice, it will be a good move.

But if the Bears have to lean on him, that means they’re not getting what they need from Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo and eventually Shemar Turner. It sounds like Turner might not be back in the mix until sometime in October.

The Bears played their hand poorly.

Their decision to do nothing at edge rusher for most of the offseason, while likely anticipating Turner’s return, hurts. By the time they finally decided to do something, the market was barren of any credible pass rushers. Davenport was the safest option because of his connection to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Yet the man hasn’t played a healthy season in four years. In fact, he hasn’t made it past half a season. He has four sacks in that time. There just isn’t any reason to think everything will suddenly get right with him in the mix.

Then again, Shemar Turner wasn’t much of a solution either. Even before his injury last season, the 2nd round pick wasn’t very effective. He didn’t generate much pressure in his limited opportunities. The one benefit he brought to the table was help against the run, but even that was modest. Now he’s apparently dealing with a knee injury that was worse than anticipated, meaning he may not be much good to the Bears whenever he does return.

It’s a sad situation.

Turner has capability. His mix of power and motor made for an intriguing prospect that could develop into a versatile lineman with some refinement. Sadly, his development was set back in a big way. There is no telling how long it will be before he becomes a genuine contributor in the rotation. It might be wise to write off 2026 for him and focus on 2027. That will hopefully be when he’s fully healthy again and gotten his confidence back. One can only hope the Bears aren’t foolish enough to bank on that alone.

The team has gone way too long without investing serious resources in their pass rush. They’ve been trying to get by with mid-tier free agents and non-1st round picks. It shouldn’t be surprising that the results continue to underwhelm. Maybe Austin Booker has his long-anticipated breakthrough this season. Maybe Jordan Van Den Berg invigorates the interior. The truth is this unit is poorly constructed and Turner’s return, whenever it happens, won’t change that.

Multiple Chicago Bears rookies stood out in the team’s second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jordan Van Den Berg was a wrecking ball on several snaps for the defense. Sam Roush had a great catch-and-run for a 1st down while also doing some blocking. Skyler Thomas had an interception. This made it easy to overlook 2nd round center Logan Jones. He stepped in and played most of the first half and into the 3rd quarter, putting together what became a solid performance.

While the backs didn’t always take full advantage of their opportunities, Jones had some quality reps in the running game. He demonstrated his ability to work in space and find the right guys to block. This play below is a great example. He uses the double team to drive the defensive tackle back, disengages, and picks off the linebacker at the second level, giving Roschon Johnson a nice lane for eight yards.

Pass protection was spotless. In 26 snaps, Jones did not allow a single pressure on the quarterback. That included 10 reps where he was one-on-one. He made good use of his hands, always fighting. His footwork was quick and crisp. There was never any lagging in his approach. Jones will always have questions about his size, but he lived up to the pre-draft reports about his technique and athleticism.

Logan Jones is looking like what the Bears wanted.

While Garrett Bradbury is the starting center for this season, the organization knew they’d only have him for one year. That meant they either had to sign him long-term, which wasn’t likely at his age, or add somebody they could develop for the future. That is how they came around to drafting Jones in the 2nd round. He is a great fit for Ben Johnson’s system, demonstrating a mix of mobility and intelligence. He’s rarely out of position and understands his assignment on every snap.

By not forcing him into the lineup immediately, the Bears are free to have him focus on cleaning up areas they feel need work. Namely, his power base. Logan Jones could stand to add some mass to his frame. While he’ll never be a bulldozer like some other centers, he needs to improve his anchor against bull rushes. He will face some big defensive tackles in this league. That brush with Dexter Lawrence in Cincinnati was merely a taste. Spending a year getting his body ready is a good thing.

It’s nice to see he is settling into the offense.

Should the worst happen and Bradbury goes down for whatever reason, the Bears know they have somebody they can trust to fill in. All things considered, things could be a lot worse. It feels so long ago, but the truth is Drew Dalman left the team hanging by his abrupt retirement just a few months ago. It would’ve been easy to panic and scramble for solutions. To their credit, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson set out with a clear plan of action. Trading for Bradbury and drafting Jones should secure both their present and their future.

As we’ve seen in the past, plans like this tend to get a little wonky as the season goes along. There’s either an injury or the starter struggles. In such cases, the younger player takes over and rarely gives the starting job back unless they’re terrible. So the pressure is on Bradbury to play his best football once the season kicks off. As much as the Bears coaches trust him, that can disappear quickly.

Caleb Williams finally played his first snaps of the preseason for the Chicago Bears. It resulted in a field goal drive. Unfortunately, there were some setbacks during the sequence that left him, head coach Ben Johnson, and those watching a bit frustrated. For the most part, Williams was solid. He made two good reads that led to 28 yards on the drive. However, three straight incompletions after a holding penalty stalled things. One was batted at the line of scrimmage. Another was a misfire to Rome Odunze, who appeared to be held. Yet it was the other one the QB probably wished he had back.

It came right after the holding penalty with the Bears facing 1st and 20. Williams took the snap from shotgun and fired a pass to Colston Loveland. The tight end was open, but the throw was a little too high and behind him. That put the Bears at 2nd-and-20, which made things much more difficult. Coach Johnson said after the game that he would’ve preferred Williams go elsewhere with the ball. The quarterback revealed why that was the case after the game. It turns out Loveland was not the first read on the play.

“That’s not typically our read on that play with that, when they get into that coverage. They ended up messing up on defense. (I) tried to find the open guy and just missed.”

Caleb Williams got too aggressive.

Being the big-game hunter he is, the quarterback hoped to get everything back and then some on the play. He wasn’t technically wrong about the decision. Loveland had his man beat. It’s more that the throw was more difficult than some of the other options available. Reviewing the film revealed why Johnson was somewhat frustrated. Running back Roschon Johnson, lined up in the slot, runs a clearing route that leaves Odunze wide open underneath. A throw to him likely gets the Bears at least 7 or 8 yards, setting up a more manageable 2nd down.

It was an even greater case with Kaden Davis wide to the right. Loveland clears so much space underneath that a well-timed throw would’ve given the receiver a dozen yards of free real estate to work with.

This is what people talk about with Caleb Williams not taking the layups often enough. Big plays are nice, but they are also difficult to pull off. Most of the time, it’s much smarter to take what the defense gives you. Johnson’s play call is perfect. It gives his quarterback two incredibly easy options to choose from. Instead, Williams went off-script, seeking the home run. He swung and missed. That left the Bears in too deep a hole to climb out of. Little things like that carry big consequences. It’s a lesson the quarterback is still learning.

All in all, the brief appearance was useful.

While Williams only played nine snaps, they were an educational nine snaps. That makes them worth it in Johnson’s eyes. The more he can get Williams to trust the system and not always feel the need to play hero ball, the better. For his part, the quarterback wasn’t ignorant of the mistake. He understands he took a calculated risk that ultimately wasn’t necessary. One can bet that the two will discuss that before the next practice. Over time, Williams should learn from it.

This should not overshadow the progress he’s clearly made from last season. The command he has over the offense was plainly evident. Williams saw everything he was supposed to see. This wasn’t a case of him misreading coverages or making bad adjustments. It was a decision that, while understandable, didn’t fit the situation. Those are the little things quarterbacks get better at as their careers progress.

The Chicago Bears‘ defense was already under the microscope going into 2026. Aside from turnovers, it ranked near the bottom in most major categories last season, be it run defense or pass rush. The latter is what has many gravely concerned. Failing to pressure the quarterback constantly hurt the Bears last season. It was hoped the team might work harder to fix the problem this spring. They did not. Their only notable moves were a series of cheaper free agents and a 6th round pick at the defensive tackle spot. No edge rushers.

General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson were betting that better health and coaching would be enough to solve the problem. Saturday’s preseason game in Cincinnati raised alarming questions about that decision. On their only drive of the game, the starting defense struggled to apply any pressure despite the Bengals only playing their backups. Even blitzing didn’t help. Cincinnati had multiple conversions on 3rd-and-10 or longer. It was a glaring sign of how poor Chicago’s depth is, especially on the edge.

The Chicago Bears have failed to wish the problem away.

Austin Booker did not play, but Montez Sweat did. It wasn’t nearly effective enough. The Bears will play far better quarterbacks in the upcoming season. At this rate, they may have to win shootouts every week. If nothing else, we can see why the team elected to sign veteran Marcus Davenport. The former 1st-round pick was an effective edge rusher earlier in his career, particularly when playing for Dennis Allen in New Orleans. However, the past three seasons have been marred by injuries. It is difficult to know what the 29-year-old can offer at this point.

That said, he can’t be worse than any of the other depth options the Chicago Bears currently have. If either Sweat or Booker go down, they are in deep trouble. It might finally be dawning on them that this is the case. Daniel Hardy is a special teams guy. That is his only viable role. Dayo Odeyingbo has returned from his torn Achilles, but if last season was any indication, he’s not what you’d call a dynamic edge rusher. There is no getting around the facts here.

The Bears made an ill-advised gamble, and it threatens to torpedo their season.

Only good luck can save them.

That means either everybody stays healthy, Davenport overachieves, or they find a hidden gem that becomes an unlikely contributor. Those are not betting odds most gamblers would dare touch. Hence why the Bears are in such a predicament. They lost three defensive tackles to various injuries last year. Davenport hasn’t had a truly good season since 2021, and it’s incredibly rare to find productive pass rushers just lying on the street. NFL teams aren’t in the habit of letting that happen.

Perhaps the only true solution is a trade, but that option won’t open up until late October. Even then, it’s bound to be expensive. The Bears aren’t rich in draft picks or salary cap space at the moment. So unless they’re 100% sure they’re on course for a Super Bowl run or somebody unexpected becomes available at an affordable price, they’re stuck with their current predicament. It is a frustrating situation that many fans and media warned would be a problem.

The Chicago Bears‘ defense didn’t have the best evening in Cincinnati. For most of the game, the Bengals found holes everywhere, mostly through the air. It was a frustrating game. However, there were bright spots on that side of the ball. None came close to Jordan Van Den Berg. If you looked at the box score, you would say the rookie didn’t do much with three tackles. That completely overlooks how disruptive the defensive tackle was. He gave the Bengals’ offensive line fits most of the time he was on the field.

From the first snap, it was evident Van Den Berg wasn’t taking any prisoners. His mix of upper-body strength and explosiveness created havoc in Cincinnati’s backfield and also led to some nice run stops. He was a wrecking ball.

It is unbelievable to think that a 6th-round pick is doing that. When you watch Van Den Berg play, it feels like he’s moving at a different speed compared to everybody else. Granted, some of that is playing against backups, but even then, it’s incredibly noticeable. Don’t forget that this is his rawest form. Most of this is happening based on Van Den Berg’s instincts and talent.

Jordan Van Den Berg checks all of the boxes.

Sure, the power and explosiveness are great. Those are the building blocks to something bigger. Yet what really stands out about the rookie is his effort. This was not somebody who went half-speed whenever the play went a different direction from him. Van Den Berg flew to the football at 100 mph, even diving at the sideline late in the game when the score was pretty much decided. No plays off. That is what the Bears preach, and few have taken it to heart more than their young draft pick.

Some may think this excitement is overblown. It isn’t. Bears fans aren’t blind. They know what good football players are supposed to look like. Sure, Jordan Van Den Berg is hardly a finished project. He has lots of work to do. Still, his toolbox is loaded. Players with this skill set tend to become a problem for offensive lines as they mature. The Bears haven’t had somebody like this in years. Henry Melton and Akiem Hicks are the only ones who come to mind, and Van Den Berg might be scarier.

We can finally see why Bears coaches were so excited.

General manager Ryan Poles admitted months ago that constant pestering from the coaching staff is what led him to make the trade up in the draft for Van Den Berg. They loved his raw athletic tools and his mental makeup. With the right development, he could become something much bigger than his draft status would suggest. It has been a long time since the Bears got significant value from a 6th round pick. You’d have to go all the way back to 2005 with Chris Harris to find anybody on the defensive side.

If Van Den Berg becomes what the Bears envision, their defense is about to get so much better. Nothing is more devastating to an offensive attack than pressure up the middle. Chicago hasn’t had anybody like that since Hicks left. Yet this young man displays an ability closer to what they had with Tommie Harris in the 2000s. Everybody remembers how deadly the defense was when he was at his peak.

The joint practice revealed a lot about where the Chicago Bears sit midway through the preseason. Now they will face the Cincinnati Bengals in their second game. Lots of roster battles remain unresolved. That said, several are teetering on the edge of decisions. Certain players cannot afford a quiet weekend. Failing to make an impression could result in them losing their spot on the roster.

What makes this situation rather unique is that some of these names aren’t in this situation because they’ve been bad. Quite the opposite, in fact. They merely face a crowded depth chart or someone else outperforming them. It could make for some explosive television tonight in Cincinnati. Keep an eye on these six players once the action begins.

These Chicago Bears need to have a big game the most.

RB Roschon Johnson

The former 4th round pick has been a steady reserve since being drafted by the Bears a few years ago. They value his power running style, solid blocking, and special teams experience. Unfortunately, he’s also been dogged by health problems. Now, newcomer Salvon Ahmed seems to have stolen the march on him with an impressive showing in the preseason opener against Cleveland, highlighted by a 49-yard touchdown catch. Johnson needs a strong performance in Cincinnati, whether it’s with some big runs or a special-teams play, to remind the team that he still has plenty of value.

WR Scotty Miller

What stinks for Miller is that he hasn’t played poorly. He has looked good in camp and made some nice plays in the preseason opener, too. The problem is that Kaden Davis has outperformed him. The journeyman receiver, most recently of the UFL, has been tearing up practices for weeks, topping it with 88 yards in one half last week. He hasn’t slowed down. At this point, the only way to change the situation is for Miller to have a big game of his own. Saturday represents what is probably his last real shot to get back in it before the coaches make their final decisions.

OT Theo Benedet

Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie blew their opportunities to seize the left tackle job last week against Cleveland. Now, the only one who can possibly prevent Braxton Jones from claiming it is Benedet. Based on reports from the joint practice on Thursday, it didn’t go well for him. This game is his one and only shot at redemption. He must do everything in his power to have his best game, especially in pass protection. Even the slightest mishap is pretty much the whole ball game. It’ll be Jones’ job until Ozzy Trapilo is declared fully healthy and read to return within the next few weeks.

DT James Lynch

Lynch deserves some sympathy. He had one of the better performances on defense last week, applying pressure on the quarterback frequently. Under normal circumstances, he’d be in a great spot to make the roster. Unfortunately, these aren’t normal circumstances. The Chicago Bears already have Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett. Then you have 6th round pick Jordan Van Den Berg, who’s looked great in camp. That likely leaves only one spot remaining, pitting Lynch against fellow veteran Neville Gallimore. Considering what the Bears paid Gallimore, it’s pretty clear who the favorite is in that head-to-head.

EDGE Jamree Kromah

This is probably surprising to many after the excellent game Kromah had against Cleveland with two sacks and six pressures. Sadly, his fate changed when the Bears signed Marcus Davenport. It is now a safe assumption that he, Austin Booker, and Montez Sweat all make the final roster. That means it’s between Kromah and Daniel Hardy for the final spot. This isn’t ideal since Hardy is one of the best special teams players on the team. As promising as Kromah has looked from a pass rush perspective lately, he doesn’t offer much help in the third phase, which is a big deal for players at the bottom of the depth chart.

LB Ruben Hyppolite

This wouldn’t have been a discussion after Hyppolite’s game against Cleveland. He was all over the field, making tackles and getting stops. If he’s made it through that with no issues, he’d be a favorite to land a spot. Then he popped up on the injury report with a shoulder problem. One cannot forget that his rookie year also ended early because of injuries. The Bears had high hopes for the speedy linebacker, but are starting to wonder whether his body can handle the physicality at this level. D’Marco Jackson, Devin Bush, and T.J. Edwards are all locks. Keyshaun Elliott, their 5th round pick, is also probably safe. That leaves Hyppolite and Jack Sanborn. While Hyppolite might be the better athlete, Sanborn is more experienced and durable.