Bears’ Defensive Line Still Searching for Answers as Offensive Front Turns a Corner
The Chicago Bears have made real progress in the trenches this season-just not on both sides of the ball. The offensive line, long a sore spot in Chicago, is finally showing signs of stability.
But while the guys up front are giving Caleb Williams time to operate, the defense is still struggling to generate consistent pressure. And as the Bears look ahead to 2026, it’s clear where the real work needs to be done: the pass rush.
The Offensive Line: Imperfect, But Trending Up
Let’s start with the good news. After years of patchwork solutions and inconsistency, the Bears’ offensive line is showing signs of life.
Caleb Williams has only been sacked 20 times this season-tied for the fourth-fewest in the league. That’s a massive turnaround from 2024, when Bears quarterbacks were sacked a staggering 68 times.
A big part of that improvement is due to the group’s overall cohesion, even with the revolving door at left tackle. Braxton Jones opened the year as the starter, but his struggles led to a shakeup.
Theo Benedet, a second-year undrafted free agent, stepped in and held his own before an injury sidelined him. That opened the door for rookie Ozzy Trapilo, who’s now started the last three games.
Trapilo hasn’t just survived-he’s quietly thriving. He hasn’t allowed a sack during that span and has only given up five pressures, even while facing some of the league’s more aggressive defensive fronts in the Steelers, Eagles, and Packers. Yes, he’s had some help with chip blocks, but for a rookie protecting a franchise quarterback’s blind side, that’s a win.
So while left tackle remains a position to monitor, it’s not the fire alarm it once was. The Bears have options, and more importantly, they’ve got young talent showing promise.
Defensive Line: Too Quiet for Too Long
Now to the other side of the ball-where the story is far less encouraging.
Despite investing both draft capital and serious money into the defensive line, the Bears still can’t seem to generate a consistent pass rush. They rank 26th in the league in sacks, and outside of Montez Sweat, there’s been a noticeable lack of disruption.
Sweat is having a solid year. With 8.5 sacks through 13 games, he’s on pace for 11-a mark that would be the second-best of his career.
He’s already surpassed last year’s sack total (5.5) and is nearly even in pressures (21 this year compared to 22 in 2024). He’s doing his part.
The problem is, he’s doing it mostly alone.
Gervon Dexter, a player the Bears were hoping would take a leap in his second season, hasn’t made the impact many expected. He’s stuck at four sacks for the year and hasn’t recorded one in the last month.
Just 12 pressures all season marks a significant drop from the 23 he posted last year. For a player expected to be a disruptive interior presence, that’s a step backward.
The Bears’ inability to consistently collapse the pocket is hamstringing the defense. Even when coverage holds up, opposing quarterbacks have too much time to operate. And in today’s NFL, that’s a recipe for giving up big plays.
Trench Priorities for 2026: Pass Rush Takes Precedence
If there was any lingering debate about whether the Bears should prioritize upgrading at left tackle or adding another pass rusher this offseason, the answer has become clear. The offensive line, while not perfect, is functional-and in some spots, promising. The defensive line, on the other hand, needs reinforcements.
Ryan Poles spent this past offseason addressing both fronts, and while the offensive line appears to be trending in the right direction, the defensive line still looks unfinished. The Bears need someone who can consistently win one-on-one matchups and take some pressure off Sweat. Without that, even a solid secondary will struggle to hold up.
The Bears are second in the league in rushing yards and have done a complete 180 in pass protection. That’s a testament to the work done on the offensive side. But if they want to take the next step as a team, they need to bring the same level of focus and urgency to the pass rush.
Come 2026, the Bears don’t just need bodies on the defensive line-they need difference-makers. And if Poles can find one, this team could finally be ready to turn the corner.