Malik Muhammad didn’t wait long to make his presence felt in Chicago’s season opener. Thrown into the starting lineup because Kyler Gordon and Xavier Woods were out, the mid-round rookie delivered one of the Bears’ few encouraging performances in the win over the Carolina Panthers.
Even with the defense leaving plenty to be desired, Muhammad and Dillon Thieneman stood out. Muhammad, in particular, looked like a player who could force the Bears into a tough decision once Gordon is back and healthy.
His versatility is part of what makes this so interesting. Muhammad can line up inside or outside, and with Tyrique Stevenson struggling again, the rookie may have already carved out a real path to major playing time. If Gordon returns to full strength, someone is likely to end up on the outside looking in.
The debut backed up the offseason buzz around Muhammad. He recorded two pass breakups and an interception in the first half alone, and while the performance wasn’t spotless, it was the kind of start that turns heads fast.
Pro Football Focus credited him with allowing five catches on nine targets for 67 yards, which works out to 13.4 yards per catch. The concern there is that 48 of those yards came after the catch, and he’ll need to clean up his pursuit angles and tackle attempts.
Stevenson, meanwhile, was the secondary’s biggest liability in Week 1. That’s a familiar story. He promised improvement this season, but the opener looked a lot like the same version of Stevenson who has too often been on the wrong end of a big play.
Muhammad looked sticky in coverage and showed strong instincts at the catch point. He was making plays throughout training camp and the preseason, and even in just one game, he clearly outplayed his veteran teammate.
Gordon’s situation is more complicated. The Bears signed him to a three-year, $40 million contract, and before the injury issues, he had been playing well. Because of that, the team will probably want to give him every chance to start when he’s ready.
Still, he’s away from the team while rehabbing, and the whole thing has taken on a strange feel. The Bears sounded very frustrated with him, and even if they kept him on the 53-man roster for financial reasons, their confidence level may not be what it once was.
Muhammad played 36 snaps in the slot and eight outside against Carolina, but his college work at Texas came mostly on the boundary. That gives Chicago plenty of options if Gordon returns and Stevenson keeps giving up plays.
In Other News...
Bears Week 2 Just Got Complicated By Minnesota's Quarterback Situation
Minnesotas Week 1 win over Green Bay already changed the early feel of the NFC North race, and it may have done so again for Chicago. The Vikings rallied behind backup quarterback Carson Wentz after starter Kyler Murray left with a concussion, leaving the Bears to prepare for a Week 2 opponent whose plan under center is suddenly less settled than it looked a few days ago.
Murray is still in concussion protocol and considered day-to-day, which means Chicago could be dealing with either Wentzs pocket-passing style or Murrays more mobile, higher-variance game. For the Bears, the difference matters: Wentz brings a steadier throw-from-the-pocket profile, while Murrays legs can change how a defense has to chase the game, even if his recent performance has raised questions. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Suddenly Have A Week 2 Problem Up Front
The Bears offensive line is suddenly worth watching closely heading into Week 2, and the biggest name on Thursdays injury report was right tackle Darnell Wright. He did not practice because of a knee injury, a development that matters for a unit trying to settle in early and keep Chicagos offense on schedule as the next game approaches.
Neville Gallimore also missed practice because of illness, while Grady Jarrett was held out for rest, and six other players were listed as limited. None of it is unusual for this point in the week on its own, but the accumulation of bumps and status checks gives Chicago a few things to sort through before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Defense Suddenly Has A Carson Wentz Problem
Sundays win over the Panthers gave the Bears a clean start in the standings, but it did not exactly quiet the questions around Dennis Allens defense. Chicago gave up plenty of yardage and points in that opener, the kind of performance that can be masked for a week but not ignored for long when a tougher divisional test is next on the schedule.
Carson Wentzs Week 1 showing for Minnesota only sharpens the concern. With Kyler Murray out, Wentz stepped in against Green Bay and threw three touchdowns, giving the Vikings an early jolt and a reminder that their offense can punish a defense that is out of sync. For Chicago, the timing is less than ideal, because the next matchup now looks like a test of whether the Bears defense can tighten up before a quarterback change turns into a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]