The Chicago Bears have more than a pass-rush problem on their hands. If they can’t find a way to keep opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is going to feel the pressure fast.
Montez Sweat is the one true centerpiece here, and he should keep making life miserable in the Windy City. But one star edge rusher can’t carry the whole load by himself. The Bears already made a move by signing Marcus Davenport, though his injury history makes the whole thing feel more like a necessity than a solution.
That’s why Leonard Floyd starts to make sense.
He’s still sitting in free agency, and for Chicago, bringing back a familiar name could be more than nostalgia. Floyd’s ability to move between linebacker and defensive end gives him value beyond a simple stopgap. He wouldn’t just patch a hole; he’d give the Bears a veteran who can help immediately.
Floyd spent his first four seasons with the Bears and put together a strong run in Chicago, piling up 154 combined tackles, including 26 for a loss, along with 44 quarterback hits, 18.5 sacks and nine passes defensed. He later found success with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams before landing in Atlanta.
Last season with Raheem Morris’ defense, the production dipped. Floyd finished with 3.5 sacks, though the Falcons struggled as a unit and he also missed a couple of games because of injuries. The year before, he had 8.5 sacks, so the pass-rush ability is still there when he’s healthy.
His best football is behind him, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of place on a roster that needs help. Chicago could probably get him at a discount, and there’s something fitting about the idea of Floyd getting one more shot with the team where it all began.
Across ten NFL seasons, Floyd has totaled 70.0 sacks. Even if he’s no longer an every-down player for Ben Johnson’s team, he still has a role to play in obvious passing situations, whether that means coming off the edge or dropping into coverage as an extra linebacker.
In Other News...
Bears Camp Just Changed The Early Roster Debate
The Bears training camp has already done what camps are supposed to do in August: it has started sorting out who is helping their case and who is slipping behind. Injuries have been part of the backdrop, but several players have made it back onto the field, and that has shifted attention toward the early roster conversation. Among the standouts, Ahmed, Jordan van den Berg and Loveland have drawn notice for the kind of practice work that can matter when coaches begin lining up the depth chart.
Kyler Gordon, Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. have had a tougher stretch, whether because of injuries or uneven play, and that kind of opening can change how a team views the edges of its roster. The rookie class has added another layer to watch, with Dillon Thieneman turning in a strong camp and Roush showing growth as both a receiver and a blocker. For a Bears team trying to get through camp healthy and build some clarity, the next few practices should say a lot about which early surprises are real and which jobs are still up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Still Have Key Week 1 Jobs Up For Grabs
With one preseason game left against the Tennessee Titans, the Bears are still sorting out some of the final pieces before Week 1. A handful of jobs remain unsettled, and the next roster decisions will be shaped by how those competitions look in game action rather than in practice. The team is still evaluating depth and fit at several spots, which makes this last tune-up especially important.
Among the open questions are the third running back role, a possible starting chance for rookie Jordan van den Berg, and the safety battle between Cam Lewis and Xavier Woods. Chicago is also watching the left tackle spot closely, along with the nickel cornerback job, where Muhammad could have a path if Kyler Gordon remains in rehab status. For a team trying to get its early-season lineup in order, these are the kinds of calls that can set the tone right away. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Johnson Is Changing What Bears Fans Should Expect Vs Packers
The Bears latest adjustment under Ben Johnson goes beyond play-calling and game planning. It reaches into the way the rivalry with Green Bay is being framed inside the building, with Colston Loveland saying on The Pivot Podcast that Johnson has leaned into the emotion of the matchup and made clear that the Packers are not to be admired, but beaten.
That kind of stance matters in a rivalry that has long carried its own history and baggage, and it signals a different standard for Chicago moving forward. Johnson has also pushed the Bears to prepare for tight finishes with real urgency, which changes what players are expected to handle when the game is on the line and raises the bar for how these meetings with Green Bay are approached. [Read more 🡒]