Jaylon Johnson, Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett lead experienced Chicago Bears defense into camp

New York Times

6 days ago

When the Chicago Bears hit the field for training camp this week, a lot of the names on defense and special teams will be the same.
That should be a good thing.
Despite the struggles in the second half of the season, the Bears still finished 12th in the league in defensive EPA (expected points added) per snap in 2024, according to TruMedia. They return nearly every starter, and added two-time Pro Bowl player Grady Jarrett at defensive tackle, ascending defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and second-rounder Shemar Turner.
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Safety Jaquan Brisker returns. Defensive end Montez Sweat wants to forget about last season. There's a lot to like about the defensive roster, and then you add a veteran defensive play caller in Dennis Allen, and this group should be loud and active during summer practices. What Allen, head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will want to see is which young players can step up.
Here's Part II of our look at the Bears' roster: defense and special teams.
Montez Sweat — Asked about attending OTAs, Sweat said in May, 'Coming off a disappointing year, I thought it was important to be here.' He knows 2024 wasn't up to his standards. He wasn't healthy, either. How much can that motivation help get Sweat back to his '23 production?
Dayo Odeyingbo — A lot hinges on Odeyingbo. He secured a substantial contract and had no one to compete with as Sweat's complement. He has got the size and the wiring to be successful.
Dominique Robinson — Having been active for only six games last season, and entering Year 4 with two career sacks, Robinson should be a 'bubble' player. However, he had an impressive spring. Keep an eye on him for the No. 3 role.
Austin Booker — Last preseason, he had 2 1/2 sacks and four QB hits. That didn't translate to a standout rookie year (1 1/2 sacks), but he's in line for the good ol' Year 2 bump.
Daniel Hardy — The preseason league leader in sacks (3 1/2), Hardy blocked a punt and forced a fumble on special teams in 2024.
Jamree Kromah — The James Madison product had two QB hits last preseason.
Jereme Robinson — He had 5 1/2 sacks last year at Kansas and will be among those vying for practice-squad spots.
Xavier Carlton — Fans are going to notice Carlton at Halas Hall. Why? He's nearly 6 foot 6 with 34 5/8-inch arms. Now we'll see what that means on the field.
Grady Jarrett — Fans might hear Jarrett more often than they see the 6-1 Pro Bowl player. He's going to have a massive impact in the locker room and make everything easier for his linemates. And it wouldn't be a surprise to see him mix it up during practices.
Gervon Dexter — It might be easy to forget that Dexter led the team in QB hits last season. Put him in a new scheme with better players around him, and what's his ceiling?
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Shemar Turner — There's no doubting Turner loves the game. He should be a fun player to watch, given his personality and versatility.
Andrew Billings — The veteran should have less pressure to perform this season because of the added depth, but he's still a stalwart.
Chris Williams — He has the 24th-highest cap hit, which might not be reflected in his snap counts, but Williams had a career year and can be a valuable rotational player.
Zacch Pickens — Could the third-rounder be the odd man out? Injuries have hampered him, and a bunch of players are in front of him on the depth chart. It's a crucial summer for Pickens.
Jonathan Ford — In his first game as a Bear, Ford had a pair of tackles for loss. He is the largest (6-5, 346 pounds) player on the Bears.
Tremaine Edmunds — Few Bears elicited more disappointment from fans last season than Edmunds. It's a new scheme, a better line in front of him, and he's still only 27.
T.J. Edwards — He had quite the spring: a new contract, another Piccolo Award. He, too, can benefit from what Allen's defense does for linebackers.
Ruben Hyppolite II — His speed helped get him drafted. His maturity and professionalism are already winning over the coaches.
Noah Sewell — If he can avoid a training camp injury, don't be shocked if Sewell wins the strongside linebacker spot. He had a solid spring.
Amen Ogbongbemiga — Special teams stalwart returns to lead Richard Hightower's coverage units.
Carl Jones — Will vie once again for preseason leader in tackles (18 last summer).
Power Echols — Dane Brugler's 32nd-ranked linebacker, Echols has the second-best name among the linebackers.
Swayze Bozeman — Best name in the linebackers room.
Jaylon Johnson — He's now a two-time Pro Bowl player, but Johnson still will surely note which corners rank ahead of him on summer lists, and he is still seeking a playoff win. Now he gets to follow the opponent's top receiver, too.
Kyler Gordon — 'Spider-Man' received a well-deserved contract extension. Next up? A Pro Bowl. Staying on the field for a full season will help.
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Tyrique Stevenson — There's a significant variance for Stevenson, who will want to do everything he can not to be defined by last season. He has the makings of a corner who can thrive under Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris. Can he be consistent?
Josh Blackwell — A valuable player on special teams and as the backup nickel, Blackwell has proven to be one of Poles' best finds.
Terell Smith — Can Smith stay healthy? It's been the one knock on his career because when he's on the field, he impresses his coaches.
Zah Frazier — A 6-3 cornerback will attract some eyeballs at training camp. We didn't get to see Frazier in the spring, and soon we'll see if he's providing a glimpse into the future at the position.
Nick McCloud — Fun fact: McCloud led the NFL in 2023 with three fumble recoveries on special teams.
Shaun Wade — A Ravens fifth-rounder, Wade hasn't played in a game since 2023.
Nahshon Wright — A Cowboys third-rounder in 2021, Wright played in one game last season. At 6-4, the size is intriguing.
Ameer Speed — A Patriots sixth-rounder, Speed played in two games for the Bears last season.
Jeremiah Walker — He's the team's most recent signee, having joined the Bears in May.
Jaquan Brisker — One of the major storylines of camp will be Brisker's return. He's motivated and is going to be loud. He wants to prove himself to everyone. That could work out well for the secondary — if he stays healthy.
Kevin Byard — The NFL stopped tracking 'ironmen' stats, but Byard would be on the list. The only 'game' he's missed in his career was due to having two byes after getting traded in 2023.
Jonathan Owens — An undrafted player from Missouri Western State, who appeared in 14 games his first three seasons, could have easily been churned out of the league. Instead, he's rattled off three consecutive 17-game seasons and is a core special-teams player.
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Elijah Hicks — The 2022 seventh-round pick has a lot of game experience, but he will have to fend off the undrafted rookies.
Tarvarius Moore — You might have lost the bet if you took the under on games played for Moore in 2024. He played in 11 and brings plenty of special-teams experience.
Major Burns — The best name in the secondary, Burns might have the best shot of an undrafted rookie to make the team.
Tysheem Johnson — Or Johnson is best equipped to make the 53 with his versatility after a productive career at Oregon.
Alex Cook — Cook was Gordon's college teammate. Cook didn't play in a game last season.
Cairo Santos — It's not easy to kick at Soldier Field. Santos knows how to handle it. He missed only one extra point last season. Maybe he can't hit a 60-yarder, but Santos is 19 for 22 from 50-plus since 2022.
Tory Taylor — He set franchise records as a rookie and should only continue to be a weapon.
Scott Daly — The Downers Grove native stepped in nicely as the long snapper last season, replacing the previous longest-tenured player (Patrick Scales).
Jonathan Kim — Could we have a kicking competition this summer, or will Kim be the Bears' emergency option throughout the season?
Luke Elkin — How fun would a long snapping battle be? More likely, Elkin allows the Bears to let both kickers get their reps in.
(Top photo of Montez Sweat, left, and Jaylon Johnson: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)