The Chicago Bears’ cornerback room is starting to look alarmingly thin, and that could force the team into a move it probably didn’t expect to make this late in the offseason.
Jaylon Johnson is banged up, Tyrique Stevenson has missed time, and Kyler Gordon’s status is still unclear. The Bears were already light in the secondary before offseason addition Coby Bryant went down for most - if not all - of the season, and even after bringing in Clark Phillips III in the Gervon Dexter trade, there still isn’t much proven depth to lean on.
That’s why a name like Marshon Lattimore is suddenly hard to ignore.
Lattimore is working his way back from a season-ending injury, and because he was hurt in November, a return may be getting closer. He’s not the All-Pro shutdown corner he once was with the New Orleans Saints, but the Bears have a clear connection here: defensive coordinator Dennis Allen coached him during Lattimore’s best years.
That familiarity matters. It would give Chicago someone who could step in quickly and handle a role without needing a long ramp-up period.
At this point, the Bears don’t need perfection. They need a viable option.
Of course, Lattimore brings his own risks. Durability has been an issue, and he has struggled at times over the past two seasons when he has been healthy. But the market is thin, and Chicago’s current situation leaves it with limited choices.
There’s also a developmental angle. Lattimore could help Malik Muhammad by serving as a veteran presence, offering some guidance as the Bears try to shape him into the kind of player they believe he can become.
Ryan Poles also has to live with the fact that he passed on multiple chances to address the defense more aggressively this offseason. He did well in the NFL Draft with Muhammad and Jordan van den Berg, but the Bears still entered this stretch without enough certainty at corner. Bryant’s injury wasn’t Poles’ fault, but the overall lack of reinforcements is on the front office.
Chicago has taken steps in the right direction, including the Phillips move, but the expectation level is about to rise sharply after the team’s breakout campaign in 2025. With Ben Johnson’s offense and the playmakers around it, nobody is going to sleepwalk into a game against the Bears.
That’s exactly why the defense can’t be an afterthought. Chicago won’t be able to rely on outscoring everybody forever. It still has to get stops, and with the secondary in this state, a reunion with Lattimore may be more than just a patch job.
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Bears Initial 53-Man Roster Sent A Clear Message About Ben Johnson
The Bears first 53-man roster of the Ben Johnson era offered an early snapshot of what the new coaching staff values, and it was not hard to read between the lines. Roschon Johnson earned the third running back job largely because of his special teams work, while the team chose to keep a fourth tight end instead of carrying a sixth receiver, another sign that versatility and role certainty carried real weight in the final decisions.
The cuts and keepers filled in the rest of the picture. Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie were both let go, Marcus Davenport was released, and Terell Smith was waived, while Jayden Loving made the roster and Elijah Hicks and Skyler Thomas both stuck. It was a reminder that this group is being built with specific jobs in mind, and the early roster math suggests Johnsons staff is willing to prioritize those jobs over more familiar names. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Roster Reveal Just Changed More Battles Than Fans Expected
The Bears 53-man roster is set, and the shape of it says as much about the teams direction as any preseason highlight. Chicago leaned into youth and upside, carrying plenty of rookies and undrafted players while rewarding some of the camp standouts who made the most of their chances. Among the clearer winners was Hayden Large, who earned a spot as a blocking tight end, a sign the Bears valued his role in a room where every detail mattered.
Not every good summer ended in a roster spot. Salvon Ahmed put together a strong preseason but still missed the cut, while James Lynch was among the cuts who could circle back later depending on how the next few days unfold. Then there is Kyler Gordon, still on the PUP list with no clear return timeline, leaving one of the Bears more interesting personnel questions unresolved as the roster settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Defensive Line Shuffle Isn't Over Yet
The Bears defensive front is still taking shape after roster cutdowns, and James Lynch is back in the picture. Chicago re-signed the defensive tackle to its 53-man roster after initially letting him go, a move that gives the team another body inside as it keeps sorting through a group that blends rookies and veterans.
To clear a spot, undrafted rookie tight end Hayden Large is headed to injured reserve, opening the door for Lynchs return. For a Bears defense trying to settle its rotation, the move is another reminder that the line shuffle is not finished yet, especially with depth at defensive tackle still a live issue as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]