Chicago Bears cornerback Nashon Wright entered an important turning point in his career when the playoffs began. One of the key contributors to Chicago’s first NFC North title since 2018, Wright is set to cash in when he becomes a free agent this spring on the strength of five interceptions and three fumble recoveries. But his flaws in coverage have made it a mystery as to whether he’ll return to the Bears in 2026.
In his first test, Wright didn’t do much of anything to extend his stay in Chicago. According to Pro Football Focus, Wright allowed five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on six targets in the wild-card round victory over the Green Bay Packers. That came off the heels of a tough performance during the regular season, where he allowed 53 catches for 725 yards and seven touchdowns on 83 targets.
Turning any receiver into one who could command an eight-figure deal in free agency isn’t ideal for any defense. But it’s becoming a bigger issue for the Bears as they get deeper into the playoffs. With the Los Angeles Rams coming to town, those concerns could reach a critical stage as Wright will have to deal with the likes of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Nacua, Adams Could Run Nashon Wright Out of Chicago on Sunday
Anyone who can read a box score knows the Bears' secondary will have to slow down the Rams’ passing attack on Sunday. Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions this season, averaging 107.2 yards per game, and his 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns make him one of the top receiving threats in the league.
While Nacua has always been one of the best receivers since entering the league in 2023, he was able to turn it up a notch with the addition of Adams last offseason. The 33-year-old had a solid first year with the Rams, catching 60 passes for 789 yards and an NFL-high 14 touchdowns, which is more impressive considering he missed three games this year due to injury.
What Nacua and Adams can do to an opposing defense had to jump off the screen when the Bears rolled the tape of the Rams’ wild-card round win against the Carolina Panthers. The two combined for 16 catches, 183 yards, and a touchdown in last week’s victory. That stat line could have included a second touchdown, as well, had Nacua not had a Matthew Stafford pass bounce off his face mask in the first half.
This is not something the Bears want to see, given the current state of their secondary. Chicago ranked 11th in passing yards per game this season (227.2) and has dealt with injuries to Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. Tyrique Stevenson has been unable to stay on the field, playing just 14 snaps in the win over the Packers, with the Bears as a team allowing Jordan Love to rack up 323 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Packers also found their way deep into Bears territory on the final drive of the game and could have been in better shape had it not been for a critical drop by Jayden Reed.
Through all of this, Wright will be the one under the microscope. That will only add to the rest of the Bears' secondary also being tested by Adams and Nacua, but Wright is the only corner that’s not currently under contract for next season. With his issues in coverage, he will be targeted by Sean McVay as a way to move the ball through the air, and if he doesn’t pass the test, he could be looking for a new team when he hits the market next spring.