The Bears’ home opener was a rough one on the scoreboard. After piling up points in Week 1, Chicago failed to reach the end zone on Sunday and settled for a single field goal. Even in a lopsided, ugly outing, the rookies still found ways to make themselves part of the story.
Dillon Thieneman was once again the headliner among the first-year players. He finished with six tackles and two assisted tackles, with Tyrique Stevenson topping him by just one assisted tackle. His best moment came when he stopped Justin Jefferson in the end zone and kept a touchdown off the board.
Malik Muhammad also continued to show up in a noticeable way. He wasn’t in the starting lineup this time, but he still turned in encouraging work and made his presence felt again. The way things are going, another start looks like a real possibility.
Logan Jones got snaps on special teams, though he remained behind Garrett Bradbury at center. Bradbury’s penalty issues had fans online pushing for Jones to get a shot. Keyshaun Elliott also saw special teams action, but he didn’t record anything that showed up in the box score.
Sam Roush had a much larger offensive role than he did in Week 1. He caught his first NFL pass, though it was his only reception on three targets.
The day also included a costly illegal shift that wiped out a Loveland reception, plus the missed block that led to a blocked punt. The mistake didn’t change the final outcome, but it was still a rough moment for a rookie tight end.
Zavion Thomas came into Week 2 with a clearer assignment and handled kickoff return duties. He brought back three kicks for 68 yards, including a long of 30. He still hasn’t carved out an offensive role, but that could change later on.
Jordan van den Berg chipped in with one solo tackle to stop Aaron Jones. He should keep getting rotational snaps, though the return of Ozzy Trapilo may have dented his standing a bit. It doesn’t make him irrelevant, just less central.
Skyler Thomas also got work on special teams and logged the first tackle of the game. That was a bigger imprint than he made in Week 1, and he’s another rookie worth tracking.
Beau Gardner, the Bears’ rookie long snapper, had the kind of day that can get a specialist noticed for the wrong reasons. He put two snaps high, but Tory Taylor bailed him out both times.
Chicago’s rookies got a taste of both sides of the NFL grind on Sunday. The game itself was a dud, but it still offered a clearer look at what the Bears’ 2026 rookie class can bring.
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