The Bears got out of Week 9 with a win, but it was anything but clean. Caleb Williams and the offense spent much of the night fighting through a rough one against Tampa Bay, and Chicago still had to grind just to escape prime time at 7-2.
That backdrop made this a useful week to sort through the Bears’ 2027 free agents-to-be and see who helped their case - and who didn’t.
Roschon Johnson’s night was over before it really started. With Zavier Scott on injured reserve and Kyle Monangai ruled out against the Buccaneers, it looked like Johnson might finally get another chance to carve out some work. Instead, Ben Johnson went a different direction and elevated Salvon Ahmed, who wound up taking the RB2 snaps.
Johnson didn’t log a single offensive snap against Tampa Bay. After a few weeks of uneven production, the Bears seem finished handing him chances. At this point, Chicago looks headed toward finding another RB3 in 2027, whether that comes in the draft or free agency.
Clark Phillips III, meanwhile, gave the Bears something to think about. Chicago’s cornerback depth took a hit during the game, with Tyrique Stevenson leaving the field multiple times and Kyler Gordon going down on one especially scary play. That opened the door for Phillips, who played 23 snaps overall and 16 in coverage.
Phillips has now appeared in four straight games in some capacity after waiting a few weeks to get on the field with the defense. Against the Bucs, he was targeted twice and didn’t allow a catch.
On the season, opposing quarterbacks have managed only a 50.7 rating when throwing his way. It’s still a small sample, but Phillips is starting to look like the kind of depth Chicago can use in that room moving forward.
And he came over as part of the trade that sent Gervon Dexter Sr. out of Chicago.
Kalif Raymond kept his role intact even in an offense that looked scattered for long stretches. He drew seven targets from Caleb Williams, catching four for 32 yards, and he continues to show why the Bears keep looking his way. His speed gives the offense a little burst when it needs it, and he brings a steadier hand than Zavion Thomas, who was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 15-yard penalty before being sent to the bench.
Raymond’s value has shown up repeatedly this season, and even at 32, he still looks like someone the Bears could count on going forward.
Up front, Theo Benedet has quietly taken control at left tackle. After Ben Johnson tried to work Ozzy Trapilo in on a few series here and there, Benedet has now played every offensive snap at LT in back-to-back games.
He hasn’t been flashy, but he hasn’t been a problem either. That kind of steady play matters, and PFF credited him with a 79.5 pass-blocking grade in Week 9. With Braxton Jones out again because of another season-ending injury, Benedet has given Chicago a stable answer at a key spot - and a strong case to stick around after this season.
In Other News...
Rome Odunze Just Added A Dangerous New Wrinkle To Chicago's Offense
Rome Odunze had already been doing plenty of the heavy lifting in Chicagos passing game before he finally found the end zone on Sunday night. The rookie had built up a solid body of work in catches and receiving yards without a touchdown to show for it, which made his role look productive but still a little unfinished as the Bears tried to round out their offense.
Now there is at least another layer for defenses to worry about. Odunzes first score of the season came at a time when Chicago has been looking for more ways to stress opponents beyond its usual targets, and it gives the Bears a receiver who can threaten in more than one phase of the passing game. For an offense that has been searching for reliable answers, that kind of development can change the way teams have to line up against them. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Legend Sees A Path For Caleb Williams To Make History
Patrick Mannelly still sits atop a pair of Bears longevity marks, with 245 games and 16 seasons, but he is not treating those records like something to guard. The former long snapper made it clear he would welcome Caleb Williams as the player who eventually pushes past them, because in his view that kind of career arc would come with the kind of team success Chicago has spent years chasing.
Mannelly also had plenty to say about the new look around Williams, especially the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He praised Simmons for the versatility and impact he brings to the roster, the sort of front-line presence that can change how an opponent has to game plan and, in turn, help create the kind of environment where a quarterback can stay in one place long enough to make history. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Johnson Sees One Big Caleb Williams Issue After Ugly Win
Caleb Williams gave the Bears both sides of the story in Week 9, and somehow the ending still belonged to Chicago. After throwing four interceptions against Tampa Bay, the second-year quarterback still found a way to lead the game-winning drive in a 27-24 escape, leaving Ben Johnson with a win to celebrate and plenty to sort through as the team heads into its bye week at 7-2.
Johnson did not treat the turnovers as a new normal for Williams, but he also did not gloss over how messy the performance was. The Bears have a rare chance now to slow down, study the tape and clean up the kind of mistakes that can turn a good season into a frustrating one, even after a victory that showed how much late-game poise Williams can still summon. [Read more 🡒]