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These four Chicago Bears are poised for big seasons in 2026

Not every major preseason storyline involves a roster battle.
ByParker Hurley|
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Jul 31, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) signs autographs during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Jul 31, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) signs autographs during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Chicago Bears are focused on the preseason, the roster battles, and starting decisions. However, all of this will impact the starters who are already locked in on the team. Which players are poised for big years after the developments in the preseason?

Four Chicago Bears Players Poised for Big Years in 2026

Rome Odunze

The talk through most of the summer has been about Luther Burden and Colston Loveland. It makes sense; they both finished the year hot, and Odunze was hurt. However, Odunze is still a big play threat and a former top ten pick.

The coaches and Odunze himself say that he is much healthier than he was last year. Still, even last year he took a step, from 43.2 yards per game to 55.1 yards per game. All signs are that he is going to build on that and potentially surprise some people. 

D’Andre Swift 

Last year around this time, the debate was whether Ben Johnson even liked Swift. Now, the question is how big of a year will Swift have? The early thought was that second-year running back Kyle Monangai would eat into his work.

However, training camp has shown Swift to be the better player. More than that, Monangai will miss a few weeks due to a lower-body injury. This will open the door for Swift to get a lot of work. Coming off a career-high 1,087 yards, there is a chance he can exceed that as the offense continues to grow. 

Garrett Bradbury 

The talk earlier in the offseason was about rookie Logan Jones and whether he could push Garrett Bradbury by Week 1. However, now the debate is whether Jones will get on the field by the end of his rookie season. Bradbury has been everything that the Bears wanted from a communication and leadership standpoint. That is hard for the rookie to match. The Bears might be more optimistic about the center than others. 

Jaylon Johnson 

Johnson made Pro Bowls in 2023 and 2024. However, an injury-plagued 2025 season has his stock trending down to enter 2026. Johnson only played seven games. Still, he has been the only healthy player in the Bears' secondary this year. He is now in the second year of the Dennis Allen defense. 

All signs point to him getting back to his Pro Bowl ways and being the leader of this secondary in 2026.

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