Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Tuesday that he had hoped to have more clarity on the depth chart by this point in training camp, but admitted that isn’t the case right now.
There are question marks at multiple positions, including left tackle, wide receiver (behind Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III), the interior defensive line, and, of course, the secondary. Many of the questions have been created by injuries, especially for the latter group, the secondary.
Dennis Allen was asked on Wednesday how difficult the injuries have made it to sort out his secondary with the season opener just weeks away.
“It’s a challenge to build that unit together, and yet as I’ve said before, it’s a great opportunity for some of these guys that might not have gotten that chance to be out there with the ones and see what they can do,” Allen told reporters at Halas Hall.
“Look, there was a point in time where we didn’t think we were going to be counting on Nahshon Wright last year, and because of the injury situation, he got a lot of opportunities. He continued to take advantage of those opportunities, got better, and really ended up being a starting corner force. So, it’s not the recipe that we intended to cook the meal with, and yet we’ve got to deal with what we have and try to get the guys that are out there; we’ve got to get them better.”
Jul 31, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Bears defensive back Coby Bryant (2) runs with the ball during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesCoby Bryant’s early camp injury was a huge blow to the defensive backfield. His replacement, Xavier Woods, sustained a groin injury last weekend against the Cleveland Browns. Cam Lewis and Tyrique Stevenson have also dealt with injuries during camp. And, of course, there’s Kyler Gordon, who was expected to play a vital role in the secondary, but has yet to get on a practice field this year, with no timeline for his return to play.
Kyler Gordon’s Return Remains Without a Timeline; Tyrique Stevenson Remains Sidelined
Head coach Ben Johnson didn’t offer anything new on Gordon when he met with the media on Tuesday, and Allen didn’t have much more to share today.
“I just know he’s going through the rehab process quite honestly. I haven’t – that’s something that I can’t really put a lot of thought into right now. I’ve got to focus on the guys that we have. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to get him back sooner rather than later, and yet that’s not anything that I control, so my pure focus has been on the guys that are out there and what we’re doing with those guys.”
As for Stevenson, who has now been sidelined for a week, Allen said he’s not sure when he’ll be back, but acknowledged his improved play when he’s on the field.
“In terms of when to get him back, I don’t know that answer. That’s a medical question. I’m sure [Head Coach] Ben [Johnson] would be able to give you a little bit better information on that. I do think that he’s improving, and I try not to get into all these evaluations of exactly where a guy’s at or what he’s doing. I really focus on what do we do each and every day. I’ve seen the guy get better. Obviously we need him out here so he can continue to improve, and when he is, we’ll get him back out there and get him going.”
Tyrique Stevenson (29) signs autographs during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesStevenson’s time in Chicago has seen its fair share of ebbs and flows, but having him in the lineup, especially with Bryant out long-term and Gordon’s return unknown, makes this secondary inarguably better in the present.
A healthy Stevenson gives the Bears their outside duo in Jaylon Johnson and Stevenson, which allows rookie Malik Muhammad to move around the secondary and rotate a bit. Muhammad has seen time at nickel and on the outside during camp, probably more than was planned out of the gates, due largely to the injuries the secondary has dealt with.
Rookie Malik Muhammad Faces An Early Test
Muhammad played well in his first preseason action against Cleveland, showing good feel and instincts in zone coverage and a nose for the football. He’s got work to do in man coverage, but he looks like someone who can play a role in this defense as early as Week 1.
He’ll face an early test this week in the Bears and Bengals joint practice, seeing two of the best receivers in the game in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
“I think it’s cliché and it’s simple, but just continue to get a little bit better each and every day. I think he’s got the right mindset. I think he’s got some confidence. I think he’s aggressive in coverage. This will be a great test to go up against these receivers and see where we’re at,” Allen said of the rookie Muhammad.
The silver lining here is that outside of Bryant, who will miss most of the regular season, and Gordon, about whom we have no idea, Woods, Stevenson and Lewis’ injuries seem to be short-term concerns. We should see Dennis Allen and Al Harris’ secondary gain some clarity in the coming weeks, even if the puzzle comes together missing two big pieces.
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