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New York Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jaylon Johnson, Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett lead experienced Chicago Bears defense into camp
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. Advertisement 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? Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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)
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Predicting the Chicago Bears' starting defense after 2025 offseason
The Chicago Bears wrapped their offseason program earlier this month, and the countdown is on for training camp in July. With the arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson, he added an experienced defensive coordinator (and former head coach) in Dennis Allen to lead the defense. There are plenty of established veterans in place, led by cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, defensive end Montez Sweat and linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. When looking at this defense, it's essentially set (although there's sure to be plenty of competition for depth spots). With that in mind, here's our updated predictions for what the Bears' starting offense will look like. DE Montez Sweat Following a career year, where he had 12.5 sacks, expectations were high for Pro Bowler Montez Sweat in 2024. But his production dipped in his first full season with the Bears, where he had the fewest sacks (5.5) since the 2021 season (5.0). Sweat battled ankle, toe and shin injuries that limited him, but he did appear in all but one game. Chicago's pass rush lacked a true complement to Sweat, who commanded extra attention with double teams and chips, which showed in the lack of production off the edge outside of Sweat. DE Dayo Odeyingbo Following the release of DeMarcus Walker, the Bears brought in Dayo Odeyingbo (who signed a three-year, $48 million deal) to shore up the edge opposite Sweat. While Odeyingbo wasn't the big name everyone was expecting, he's a young, ascending player in this league that could flash in Dennis Allen's defense. Odeyingbo also brings versatility to the defensive line, as he can line up off the edge or along the interior. DT Grady Jarrett Chicago made a huge addition to the interior defensive line with the signing of Grady Jarrett, who was released by the Atlanta Falcons at the start of free agency. Last season, Garrett totaled 53 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 12 QB hits in 17 starts with the Falcons. He's a former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler that figures to be a valuable contributor on defense. The Bears get a dominant interior lineman and a leader for this young defensive line. Andrew Billings also figures to serve a significant role, as it'll be a four-man rotation with Jarrett, Dexter, Billings and rookie Shemar Turner. DT Gervon Dexter Last season, Gervon Dexter was the most pleasant surprise on defense in his first full season starting. He set career highs across the board in total tackles (51), tackles for loss (4), sacks (5.0), QB hits (19) and fumble recoveries (2). Unfortunately, Dexter's production took a hit after the loss of Andrew Billings. But he's still established himself as a key player along the defensive interior, and he serves to benefit as he continues to learn from Billings and now Grady Jarrett. LB T.J. Edwards T.J. Edwards is entering the final year of his contract, and he's been worth every penny of his affordable contract signed back in 2023. Even as the Bears defense regressed as the season went on, Edwards continued to make plays and proved to be one of their better players. He totaled 129 tackles, six QB hits, one interception, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, as well as set career highs in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (12). Edwards has proven to be an impactful off-ball linebacker who could thrive in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system. LB Tremaine Edmunds The Bears made a splash when they signed Tremaine Edmunds to a four-year, $72 million contract in 2023, but he hasn't lived up to the hype (or the money). While Edmunds had a solid first year, he took a step back in 2024, and he's going to need to prove his worth this season. Edmunds, who has the fourth-highest cap hit at $17.43 million, has plenty to prove this season as new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen steps in. Otherwise, there's an out for Chicago in the final year of his contract in 2026. CB Jaylon Johnson After signing a well-deserved contract extension in the offseason, Jaylon Johnson once again proved that he's one of the most important players on this Bears roster -- and one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. Johnson had his second consecutive Pro Bowl season, where he forced three turnovers and recorded a career-high in tackles (53) and tackles for loss (7) all with teams electing to steer clear of him when they could. He'll be a cornerstone of Dennis Allen's defense. CB Tyrique Stevenson Tyrique Stevenson looked primed for a breakout season following an impressive Week 1 performance against the Titans, which included a pick-6 and NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Unfortunately, his entire second season was marred by his part in the Hail Mary loss against the Commanders, where he was seen on video talking with fans -- and out of place -- as the final play got underway. But Stevenson should benefit from the addition of new head coach Ben Johnson and this coaching staff. We'll see if Terell Smith or rookie Zah Frazier will beat him out of a starting job. NCB Kyler Gordon Kyler Gordon has developed into one of the NFL's best nickel cornerbacks, and he could find even more success under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Last season, he had a career-high 75 tackles, including our tackles for loss, four pass breakups, 0.5 sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and two QB hits in 15 games. Gordon certainly fits that "attacking, aggressive style of defense" that Allen is looking to build in Chicago. Gordon inked a three-year, $40 million contract extension to keep him in Chicago through 2028. S Kevin Byard The Bears signed Byard to a two-year, $15 million deal last offseason, and he was one of the more reliable members of the defense, posting a career-high 130 total tackles, becoming the first Bears defensive back to lead the team in tackles since 2014. He also tied a career-high 2.0 sacks and made plays be it through forcing takeaways, recovering turnovers and breaking up passes. Byard also started every game in 2024, which was huge for this defense. But outside of his production was his impact as a whole, as Byard served as a veteran leader in a relatively young secondary. S Jaquan Brisker Jaquan Brisker has been an integral member of this Bears defense, but health remains his biggest hurdle. Last season, Brisker suffered his third concussion, in as many seasons, in Week 5, and he missed the remainder of the season. His loss was certainly felt, as Chicago juggled between Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens, but his health was more concerning. Brisker said on social media that he's good to go for this season. And while he should be gearing up for a contract extension, he needs to play a full season before the Bears make a move.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Montez Sweat says Grady Jarrett's leadership will be key for Bears
Montez Sweat says Grady Jarrett's leadership will be key for Bears The Chicago Bears bolstered the roster this offseason with some big additions, including veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Jarrett spent his first 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, before being released ahead of free agency, and he now joins a Bears defensive line loaded with talent. Jarrett could be a big help alongside Montez Sweat and fellow free-agent signing, Dayo Odeyingbo, as well as interior linemen Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings. While Jarrett's resume speaks for itself, Sweat believes his new teammate can be beneficial both from a production and leadership standpoint, which is very much needed in the locker room. "Grady has brought a lot of leadership and experience to the room," Sweat said. "He helps out the young guys a lot. He's also kind of played in this type before. And some players haven't, including me. So he's helping out in that aspect too. So yeah, Grady is a big help right now." Getting a player in Jarrett not only helps the on-field product, but it helps build a locker room that was broken beyond belief last year. Throughout the 2024 season, amid the team's 10-game losing streak and 5-12 record, players called for more accountability and leadership. Signing players like Jarrett, who has played in a Super Bowl, will help bring back stability in the locker room and, even in his first year, will establish himself as a leader for this defense. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Jaquan Brisker glad to be back practicing with Bears after recovering from concussion
The Bears held their second day of mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall on Tuesday, and Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson was among the two excused absences. But the return to active duty of another defensive back, Jaquan Brisker, was a welcome sight. Brisker said it felt great to be back on the football field. The Bears safety missed the final 11 games last season because of a concussion. "It was hard, you know, being away from football — especially week to week. You know, it was kind of, you know, getting sad, depressing, things like that, Brisker said. "But you know, got over it. It's time to move on, and I'm back now." Getting over it was not easy for Brisker. He said because of the type of concussion he had, he basically had to retrain his nervous system — doing a lot of side-to-side movements and getting his eyes moving around. This was also his third diagnosed concussion in three seasons, but Brisker says there was no talk about retiring. No, not with no one — especially not myself, not with my parents," Brisker said. "I feel like if my parents, you know, say something, it's deep. So if it didn't come from them, or come from me, I didn't hear it, to be honest." Brisker said he was not worried about himself. "No, I'm not. I'm good. I'm past that point. I'm really moving on, so I'm just focused on playing ball," he said. "I'm really clear, man. I'm really good." Brisker said his teammates, especially Montez Sweat, helped him through the toughest times last season. He added that this is just another bump in the road, and now No. 9 is back and on the field to make plays.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears GM Ryan Poles praises Montez Sweat's offseason preparation
Bears GM Ryan Poles praises Montez Sweat's offseason preparation Expectations were high for the Chicago Bears going into the 2024 season. Not only from a record standpoint, but also for individual players and what they could produce on the field. Unfortunately, the Bears fell flat in their quest to make it back to the postseason, in part due to quite a few players not performing their best on the field. That includes defensive end Montez Sweat, who came into last season with a fresh new four-year, $98 million contract and plans to build off his impressive 2023 campaign. Instead, Sweat finished the year with 32 total tackles, nine for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles while playing in 16 games. It was a far cry from his previous season, and it left Bears fans questioning the team's investment in him, though lingering injuries played a factor in his production dip. It seems Sweat is motivated to bounce back, and his general manager is taking notice. On Thursday, Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke with ESPN 1000's Kap & J-Hood and revealed Sweat is training at a level he has never seen from the Pro Bowl edge rusher. "I don't think there is anyone in this building working as hard as Montez Sweat right now," Poles said. "He's pushing weight, he's getting strong, he's getting in shape. He's locked in like I've never seen him before." The Bears didn't spend any major draft capital on an edge rusher, and their only significant move this offseason has been to sign Dayo Odeyingbo. The Bears are counting on Sweat to return to form, and it's reassuring to hear he's committed to getting there. That didn't always seem like the case. Early in the offseason last year, Sweat was one of the more notable players absent from voluntary workouts. Though the keyword is "voluntary" and players aren't required to show up, you always want to see the key veterans participating when they can. It sounds like Sweat is changing things up, which bodes well for the team's 2025 expectations.
