The Chicago Bears took a step back in Week 2 of the preseason, falling 27-9 to the Cincinnati Bengals, and the game left a mix of encouraging flashes and familiar problem spots.
Caleb Williams got one drive with the starters and came away with a field goal, but the performance was more solid than spectacular. He finished 2-of-5 for 28 yards. It was enough to move the offense, not enough to call it sharp.
Up front and on defense, there were more clear-cut takeaways. Dayo Odeyingbo was repeatedly in the backfield late in the first quarter, and he looked like a pass rusher starting to settle into the role the Bears want from him. Chicago still needs to see that kind of impact carry over into the regular season, and it has to come with more sacks.
The pass rush as a whole never fully showed up. The Bears managed four quarterback hits but didn’t record a sack, and while there were moments when the pressure bothered Cincinnati, the Bengals got the ball out quickly and kept the Bears from turning those pressures into finishing plays. Compared with last week against the Cleveland Browns, it was a reminder that the defensive line still has work to do against a stronger opponent.
In the secondary, Dontae Manning had one of the more volatile nights on the field. He broke up three passes and flashed real potential, but he also gave up two touchdowns. That kind of up-and-down showing makes it tough to feel good about his chances to stick.
There was better news at tight end. Sam Roush keeps getting labeled as a blocker, but he showed he can do more than that. He caught two passes for 30 yards, including a 26-yard grab, and made a case for a bigger role as a receiver.
The Bears also still have no clean answer at RB3. Roschon Johnson ran for 42 yards on 12 carries, and Salvon Ahmed finished with 50 yards combined between rushing and receiving. Both played well enough to make the decision harder, and if Kyle Monangai’s injury keeps him out of Week 1, there’s a strong argument that both Johnson and Ahmed belong on the 53-man roster.
Special teams added another small concern. Cairo Santos has been making most of his field goals in the preseason, but he’s now had a miss in two straight weeks. It’s not a crisis, but it’s not the kind of consistency the Bears want from him, either.
And then there was the late spark from Austin Thomas. The undrafted rookie from Oregon State came down with an interception in the fourth quarter and also logged a pass deflection. It wasn’t a flawless outing, but it was the kind of showing that can get a young player noticed fast, whether that ends up meaning the roster or the practice squad.
In Other News...
Bears Have An Early Cairo Santos Decision They Can't Ignore
Cairo Santos has gotten plenty of early work in the Bears first two preseason games, and the results have been mixed enough to keep the kicking competition on the radar. He has connected on five of seven field-goal tries, with both misses coming from 50 yards or more, a small sample that still matters for a player whose job is built on consistency and trust.
Santos has been steady enough at times to remain the incumbent, but his accuracy has trended down over the past two seasons compared with his earlier run in Chicago. If that kind of unevenness carries into the rest of the preseason, the Bears may have little choice but to bring in another leg and make the position a real battle. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Bubble Players Just Made Final Roster Cuts A Lot Tougher
The Bears left their second preseason game against the Bengals with a few more names making a real case for themselves, and that is exactly the kind of problem a coaching staff wants this time of year. Salvon Ahmed did a little bit of everything, showing up as a runner, a pass catcher and in protection while also contributing on special teams, while Malik Muhammad has looked steady as he continues his move into the slot. Kentavius Street kept working as a backup on the defensive line, giving Chicago more competent depth in a position group where every rep matters.
The pressure is building elsewhere too, especially on the edge, where Jamree Kromah has been outplaying some of the players around him for a roster spot. Two rookies, Skyler Thomas and Jordan van den Berg, have also shown enough to stay in the conversation as the Bears sort through the back end of the roster. With final cuts approaching, the competition is starting to feel less like a formality and more like a real test of who has done enough to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Just Put More Pressure On A Growing Bears Problem
The Bears left their recent preseason game against the Bengals with a familiar issue hanging over them: too many flags. Chicago was hit with 11 penalties, another reminder that discipline has become a real problem for a team trying to build cleaner habits heading into the season.
Caleb Williams took aim at the issue in his postgame press conference, saying the offense and the team as a whole have to own it and get better. The timing matters, too, because Chicagos penalty count has climbed from 2024 to 2025, and the team has slipped in the league rankings for penalties committed, which only adds more pressure to a problem the Bears cannot afford to carry into meaningful games. [Read more 🡒]