The Chicago Bears have a preseason game coming up against the Tennessee Titans, and three of their rookies look poised to become Day One starters by September.
It would be easy for a team like the Chicago Bears to be extra cautious in preseason, coming off the worst record in the NFL back in 2022. But don't expect general manager Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus to play that kind of game.
This is a make-or-break season for this organization, in terms of taking the next steps towards contender status. Every year, one team in the NFL endures a surprising turnaround that sets them off on their journey toward contention.
Granted, no one will likely catch the Kansas City Chiefs if for no other reason than it's almost impossible to bet against Patrick Mahomes. But Chicago, who still faces grief for picking Mitchell Trubisky over Mahomes, has a chance to send a message of "BE QUIET" to their doubters if things go according to plan.
That means, winning games, and letting the young talent blossom and develop into quality players that can help achieve victory. Let's take a look at three rookies who will more than likely start Week 1 and go off.
Chicago Bears rookie starter No. 1: OT Darnell Wright
Well, obviously, the 10th overall pick in the draft has to be a starter, right? Technically speaking, yes. That said, what Darnell Wright did in the conditioning test, combined with his reliability and availability thus far in training camp, makes it all the more understanding why Wright was the top choice for the Bears.
This year is a big year for quarterback Justin Fields and given how Wright played at Tennessee and held his own against some of the best pass rushers in the country, coming into the NFL will be a different story, given how pass rushers at this level are much faster and more experienced.
Wright should be able to handle his own against them, and he's shown that he is capable of the challenge. Capability is one thing, but does productivity match up with that? Time will tell. For now, Wright is the starter and he's got a lot on his plate to devour.
Chicago Bears rookie starter No. 2: CB Tyrique Stevenson
There's just something about coming out of the University of Miami that is exciting. While the program is not as dominant as it once was in the old days back in the 70s to the early 00s, the school still produces quality talent, and Chicago took one in Tyrique Stevenson. Remember when Chicago took another Hurricane in Devin Hester? Peyton Manning and Adam Vinatieri (although they beat him) certainly do.
Stevenson is currently listed behind Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon at the cornerback spot, and fellow rookie Terrell Smith is also making an impression on the coaching staff, which should bode well for the Bears in the future if they landed two quality cornerbacks. Stevenson could get the nod soon because it would allow Gordon to slip back inside to the nickelback position, but the preseason will provide most of those answers.
Chicago Bears rookie starter No. 3: RB Roschon Johnson
As much as YouTuber and longtime Chicago Bears fan Jeff Schlegel continues to yell out #BEARSFOOTBALL, running the ball continues to be a theme of success in the Windy City. The good news for Bears fans is that with the exception of Curtis Enis, who has a very unfortunate nickname given to him by the fanbase, and Rashaan Salaam (God rest his soul), most running backs thrive in the blue and orange.
In this case, Chicago is hoping Roschon Johnson can take over, and from the outskirts, he certainly has all the tools to do so, and his tires are very fresh. Backing up Bijan Robinson certainly helped, and with Khalil Herbert currently in the starting role, it is very possible that Johnson could find his way into the starting lineup sooner rather than later.