The Chicago Bears didn't bring Grady Jarrett to town just to take up space along the defensive line. They wanted a veteran who could create problems for opposing quarterbacks, make life miserable for offensive linemen, and help turn a struggling defense into something respectable.
Seven games into the 2026 season, the Bears are 5-2. Their defense has improved considerably.
Jarrett, however, hasn't quite delivered the production Chicago was hoping for.
According to ESPN's Bears team statistics, the veteran defensive tackle has recorded just 12 tackles and zero sacks. That's not exactly what anyone envisioned when Chicago signed the former Pro Bowler.
And with Jeffery Simmons now joining the defensive line, the expectations aren't getting any smaller.
Grady Jarrett's numbers don't tell the entire story
It's easy to look at Jarrett's sack total and assume he's having a terrible season. That wouldn't be fair.
Interior defensive linemen have responsibilities that go well beyond getting to the quarterback. They occupy blockers, disrupt running lanes, and occasionally create opportunities for teammates who end up receiving the credit.
Jarrett has done some of that work.
Pro Football Focus credited him with nine quarterback pressures through his first five games, including seven hurries and two quarterback hits. His 72.1 pass rush grade also ranked 18th among qualifying interior defensive linemen at that point.
Clearly, he hasn't been completely ineffective.
But there's a difference between being serviceable and providing the kind of impact Chicago expected from a player with Jarrett's reputation.
Austin Booker has four sacks. Dayo Odeyingbo has three. Even cornerback Kyler Gordon has managed four.
Meanwhile, Jarrett is still looking for his first.
The veteran dealt with injuries during the 2025 season, missing three games, but he hasn't had a comparable absence this year. At some point, the Bears need those pressures to start turning into more disruptive plays.
Jeffery Simmons' arrival raises the bar for Chicago's defense
Ryan Poles didn't surrender two future first-round picks for Simmons because he was satisfied with Chicago's defensive front.
The Bears wanted another difference maker.
Simmons arrives after recording 11 sacks in 2025 and earning first-team All-Pro honors. He also had four sacks through seven games this season before Tennessee traded him.
That's the kind of interior production Chicago has been missing.
His presence should help Jarrett. Offensive lines can't devote all their attention to one defensive tackle when the player lining up beside him is capable of wrecking a game.
Jarrett should see opportunities to win more individual matchups, particularly when opponents are forced to account for Simmons.
But the trade also creates an interesting question.
If Chicago needed to spend that much draft capital to improve its defensive interior, what does that say about the production it was getting from the players already there?
Jarrett isn't solely responsible for the team's shortcomings. Far from it.
Still, he's one of the veterans who needs to respond.
The Bears need more from Grady Jarrett down the stretch
Chicago has climbed into the top 10 in scoring defense, allowing 20.4 points per game. That's an impressive improvement from last season.
The Bears also have 19 sacks through seven games, putting them among the league's better pass rushing teams.
So this isn't a defense falling apart because Jarrett hasn't recorded a sack.
It's a defense that's getting better and now has an opportunity to become considerably more dangerous.
That's where Jarrett comes in.
Chicago doesn't need him to suddenly become the most dominant defensive tackle in football. Simmons can handle the superstar expectations.
But Jarrett can't simply disappear into the background, either.
The Bears are building a defensive front capable of competing with the best teams in the NFC. They've invested too much in that group to settle for occasional pressure and limited production from one of their established veterans.
Jarrett has spent more than a decade proving he can play at a high level. Nobody is questioning his experience or what he's accomplished.
Now Chicago needs him to show there's still more left.
With Simmons beside him, he might not get a better opportunity.
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