Chicago Bears: 5 early predictions for training camp

Sam Acho earns nod over Aaron Lynch

Opinions could not be more split on this topic at the moment. A lot of fans have newcomer Aaron Lynch earning the starting spot opposite Leonard Floyd. While that wouldn’t necessarily surprise me, I am worried about the health of Lynch. Already, he has been injured twice since joining the team and training camp hasn’t even started yet.

Sam Acho is a crafty veteran who has been in the defense for a couple years now and is comfortable within Vic Fangio’s scheme. He was brought back this offseason for several reasons. First, and probably above all else, he is a phenomenal presence within the locker room. I don’t think there is a single player within the team who doesn’t respect Acho at the utmost level. He is there to provide leadership and knowledge for everybody in that room.

Secondly, Acho actually played really well last year when he was called upon. He is a player who simply does his job. Acho won’t make those huge, game-impacting plays that you would expect out of Floyd on the other side, but he will ensure that the little things get done — and typically go unnoticed. Shedding blockers, filling gaps and providing above-average pass coverage when it’s called for are just a few things he does well.

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I think Acho will get the nod as a starter during camp. While that could change as Lynch may gain momentum as his health improves, to begin the year I see Acho earning the starting spot. I have gone back and forth on this spot for weeks, but after a ton of consideration, I think Acho earns it.