With the start of the regular season right ahead of us, there are plenty of questions to be answered about the Chicago Bears defense. What are fans looking to find out early in the season?
Chicago Bears' biggest defensive questions entering 2026
Who finishes second in pressures?
The edge rusher room is Montez Sweat and questions. Austin Booker should be second in pressures. However, he is banged up, and his role might be reduced to a rotational spot. Dayo Odeyingbo is more likely to start than Booker. However, he is known more for his run defense and is coming off an injury. The second spot is wide open.
How do they mix old and young on the defensive line?
The Bears defensive front is a mix of youth and experience. At the top of the depth chart are Grady Jarrett, Kentavius Street, and Neville Gallimore. All are experienced veterans. The bottom is Jordan van den Berg and Jayden Loving. Both are rookies.
The veterans will get more time to start the season, but how quickly do the young names enter the discussion?
Who leads the LB Corps?
The Bears have three candidates to lead the linebacker room this year. T.J. Edwards had been the leader, but he is coming off an injury, and he was not added by this regime. Dennis Allen and his staff extended D’Marco Jackson, who excelled in this defense last year. They also signed Devin Bush in free agency.
Bush is a former top-ten pick and was signed to legitimate money. Is that a sign that they see him taking over playcalling from Edwards? Who leads this group?
Who plays the slot?
Right now, it looks like Cam Lewis will be the starting slot in Week 1. However, he also might be the starting safety, so things are not locked down. If it is not Lewis, it might be rookie Malik Muhammad. At some point, it could be injured veteran Kyler Gordon. How many of these three do we see on the field this season?
Is the rookie ready to lead the safety room?
Dillon Thieneman has high expectations entering his rookie season. He was supposed to be a role player who followed the lead of free-agent signing Coby Bryant. However, Bryant is hurt, and now expectations are for the rookie to lead the room. How does he look with a questionable back-end partner?
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