The Chicago Bears keep losing pieces in the secondary, and that mess might hand rookie Malik Muhammad a real chance to matter right away.
Coby Bryant is out for the long run, possibly for the entire regular season. Xavier Woods, brought in to help replace him, is now dealing with a groin injury and was limited in Thursday’s practice. Add in Kyler Gordon, who is also hurt and rehabbing away from the team, and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen may have no choice but to lean on Muhammad in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Muhammad wasn’t a big pre-draft name, but he started turning heads once he got into the building. He worked both on the boundary and in the slot, and he took advantage of the absences of Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson. In the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, he was one of the best players on the field, helping against the run, making plays in coverage and flashing the kind of versatility that fits a modern defense.
Right now, Muhammad is listed as the Bears’ second nickelback, with Cam Lewis set to start. Even that setup could shift, though, because soft-tissue injuries can linger. If that happens, Lewis may need to move to safety alongside Dillon Thieneman.
That’s where Muhammad’s flexibility becomes so valuable. He can work in the slot, line up at free safety and rotate with Lewis and Skyler Thomas. With fewer bodies competing for snaps, the Bears should have every reason to find ways to get him on the field.
The situation also opens the door a bit more for Stevenson, who has not necessarily played great in recent years and can also line up outside. Between Gordon’s uncertainty, Woods’ age and Bryant’s injury, the path is there for Muhammad to carve out a bigger role quickly.
It’s not the kind of problem a team wants this close to Week 1, and there’s no guarantee it works out. But for the Bears, it does create an opportunity. And for Muhammad, it could be the kind that launches him early as another one of Al Harris’ pupils to become a ball-hawk and a disruptive defensive back.
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