The Chicago Bears’ 3-1 start has given the roster plenty to feel good about, but not every part of the operation has matched that momentum. Through four weeks, a handful of names have stood out for the wrong reasons.
Caleb Williams is the clearest frustration, even if the disappointment isn’t about his play as much as his availability. He opened the season with a strong Week 1, then got hurt in Week 2 and has not started the last two games. For a year built around evaluating how much he can grow in his second season in a new offense, that delay matters.
Colston Loveland has also been quieter than expected. He’s on the field more than he was early last year, but the production still hasn’t come with it.
Through four games, Loveland has 91 yards and is averaging 0.91 yards per route run, well below the 1.97 yards per route run he posted last season. He had only 43 yards through four weeks a year ago, so there’s still time for him to get rolling, but the slow start is still a negative surprise.
It’s also worth noting that Sam LaPorta did not reach the same heights in his second year with Ben Johnson.
Tyrique Stevenson is in a tougher spot because the season is moving toward a contract decision, and he hasn’t helped his case. The former second-round pick has allowed three touchdowns in three games, and when he missed Week 3, the defense did not skip a beat.
Once Kyler Gordon returns, he is expected to take over in the slot, which could leave the Bears considering a move that would put rookie Malik Muhammad on the outside and send Stevenson to the bench. That would be the worst possible outcome for Stevenson heading toward free agency, even if it might be the better football decision for the team.
Neville Gallimore was supposed to bring a meaningful role to the defense, but that hasn’t happened. His snap share has dropped from 40% with the Colts last year to 35% with Chicago this season, even though the Bears are thinner up front.
The reason is simple: he’s not producing enough to stay on the field. The signing has not paid off.
There’s also the issue on the offensive line with Bradbury, who drew praise for his communication in training camp. That may be part of why he is still starting despite the team’s quarterback shuffle, but his play has not been clean. Stronger linemen have been able to push him around, and Logan Jones could still see the field this year.
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Ben Johnson Sends Clear Message After D'Andre Swift's Costly Mistake
DAndre Swifts early-season ball-security issues have become a real concern for the Bears, and they took center stage in Week 4 against the Jets. The veteran running back has already put the ball on the ground twice in the first four weeks of his seventh NFL season, which is a sharp turn from the consistency he showed over his first six years, when he never lost more than three fumbles in a season.
After Swifts third-quarter fumble against New York, Ben Johnson quickly sent a message by benching him and calling the mistake egregious. It was a pointed reminder that ball security is not optional in Chicagos locker room, and Johnsons comments made clear that accountability is going to matter just as much as production as the Bears try to settle that backfield situation. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylon Johnson Faces A Bears Test That Could Change Everything
Jaylon Johnson has spent much of the 2026 season under an unusually bright spotlight, and for a Bears defense that leans heavily on him, the scrutiny has only intensified. His production has not matched the standard he set in previous years, and the next assignment is the kind that tends to separate a rough stretch from a real concern: a matchup with Packers receiver Christian Watson, one of the more demanding cover jobs on the schedule.
Johnson has seen Watson before, which only adds to the weight of what comes next. Green Bay will try to stress Chicago with a receiver who can punish even a small lapse in coverage, and this game gives Johnson a chance to steady a season that has already raised questions about where he stands within the Bears long-term plans. How he responds could say plenty about both the rest of his year and what comes after it. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Face A Bigger Problem Than Just Missing Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams is set to miss the Bears Week 5 game against the Packers with a hamstring injury, leaving Tyson Bagent in line to start again. It is the kind of setback Chicago has already had to navigate this season, with Williams sidelined for three games and the Bears winning twice without him, but it also comes at a time when the offense has been leaning on what he changes beyond the box score.
Williams has mattered to Chicago in ways that show up in the run game, in ball security and in how the offense finishes games, which is why his absence against Green Bay feels like more than a simple quarterback swap. The Bears have managed without him before, but the bigger question now is whether they can keep the same rhythm on the ground and avoid the late-game issues that have made his presence so valuable, especially with a potential return looming in the next game. [Read more 🡒]