Bears Reportedly Expected to Bench Player on Thin Ice in Week 9

Second-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson made the worst mistake of his career last Sunday when he taunted Washington Commander fans during the final play of the game.

This lapse in judgment led to Stevenson being out of position, allowing Commanders' rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to complete a Hail Mary. As a result of this play, people began to have discussions on whether Stevenson should be punished and what the punishment should be.

Many brought up the idea of benching Stevenson for his actions. However, some believed that benching Stevenson might not be the correct call because of his importance to the defense. While others believe punishing Stevenson will help him learn the valuable lesson of never losing focus.

A punishment for Stevenson looks to have been decided upon. According to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune, "it will not be a surprise if Tyrique Stevenson does not start Sunday in Arizona."

Despite the fact that it sounds like Stevenson is likely not to start on Sunday, it doesn't mean he won't play at all. Instead, he and Terell Smith will likely rotate more than usual.

Smith receiving the start at corner isn't the worst-case scenario for Chicago. Since the Bears drafted Smith in 2022, he has shown he has the talent to be a solid NFL corner. Although he may not have the same playmaking ability as Stevenson, Smith is still a nice complement to Jaylon Johnson.

Hopefully, not giving Stevenson the start gets the message across that the mistake he made can never be made again. As long as he learns that lesson, Stevenson's future with the Bears is bright.

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