Training camp is creeping closer for the Chicago Bears, and the spotlight in Chicago has shifted fast. After beating expectations in 2025, the challenge now is holding that line in 2026. Ben Johnson and the coaching staff may not be carrying the same kind of pressure, but a handful of players are walking into camp with a whole lot on their shoulders.
Some of that comes from opportunity. Some of it comes from money, injuries, or just the simple fact that the Bears need more from certain spots on the roster. Here are the five players facing the most pressure as camp approaches.
Kyler Gordon tops the list because availability has become the issue. When he’s out there, he’s one of the NFL’s best nickel corners.
The problem is getting him on the field. A soft tissue injury has kept him sidelined, he played only three games last year, and he didn’t practice at all during OTAs.
That left Johnson frustrated with Gordon, and it puts him in a dangerous spot heading into camp. Something has to give once practices start, or Gordon could be out of a job.
Even if he gets back out there in 2026, he’ll need to play better than he ever has.
Dayo Odeyingbo is next, and the expectations are tied directly to production. He had just one sack in eight games last season, which is a rough number for a player who arrived with a big price tag.
He’s entering Year 2 fully healthy after his injury, and Johnson is already hoping he can take a step forward in 2026. The sack total is the problem, especially when the Bears are paying him nearly $50 million.
That kind of investment comes with a demand for much more.
Braxton Jones is in a classic make-or-break year. He was benched after three and a half games last season and then missed part of the year because of an injury, which leaves him with very little room for error now.
Ozzy Trapilo will be out for a while, giving Jones a chance to keep the left tackle job. But he still has to win the battle against Theo Benedet and Jedrick Wills.
This season could decide whether Jones sticks in Chicago or whether his NFL future gets shakier from here.
Roschon Johnson is staring at a crowded and uncomfortable situation in the backfield. His carries have been cut down close to nothing, and that puts him firmly on the edge.
Chicago has Salvon Ahmed, Brittain Brown, and Coleman Bennett all pushing for the RB3 spot, and Johnson is no longer in a comfortable position. If he doesn’t clearly outplay those three, there’s even a real chance he gets cut during training camp.
Luther Burden III rounds out the group, and the pressure here comes with the buzz. The excitement around him is real, but now he has to turn that hype into actual production.
The Bears traded away DJ Moore, which opens the door for Burden to step in as the second receiver behind Rome Odunze. That kind of role brings attention fast, and after all the noise surrounding him, Burden has to back it up with a strong second season in the league.
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Training camp usually clarifies a roster, but for the Bears it is also about sorting out who can handle a bigger burden as the 2026 season comes into view. Kalif Raymond is in the mix at receiver, Grady Jarrett is trying to steady a defensive role after a rough year, Austin Booker is being counted on for a larger edge-rushing presence, and Cole Kmet is looking to hold his place at tight end with more competition arriving behind him.
The pressure is different for each of them, but the theme is the same: this coaching staff is no longer treating any of those spots as settled. Raymond has a path to snaps, Jarrett needs to look more like a reliable interior force, Booker has to show he can turn promise into production, and Kmet is entering camp with the kind of depth chart reality that can change quickly if he does not separate himself early. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Suddenly Face A Huge Grady Jarrett Question In Camp
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Now the conversation around camp is less about where Jarrett once was and more about what he can still become for this defense. The coaching staff is set to evaluate him closely in training camp, and if he does not come out strong, his role could shrink quickly. For a player the Bears brought in to matter right away, this summer may go a long way toward determining how long his future in Chicago really lasts. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Rookie Dillon Thieneman May Be Ahead Of Schedule Already
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What makes this development more interesting is how quickly Thieneman seems to be absorbing everything around him. The Bears see him as a defensive back who can move around the formation, and his early placement with the starters hints at a bigger plan taking shape before training camp even opens. If he keeps trending this way, Chicago may not have to wait long to find out just how much responsibility the rookie can handle. [Read more 🡒]