Plenty of notable names on the [Chicago Bears](https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/warning-sign-for-bears-after-executive-slams-key-acquisition)‘ roster are under pressure to perform this season. A new coaching staff always leads to changes. Guys who might’ve been safe in previous years should no longer expect preferential treatment. The entire reason there were changes was that players did not do their jobs well enough. Braxton Jones is one example. Cole Kmet, D’Andre Swift, and Tremaine Edmunds are others. However, nobody is under the microscope more this year than Tyrique Stevenson.
Teh young cornerback had such a promising rookie year in 2023, snagging four interceptions. Last season, it felt like one disaster after another. He gave up way too many big plays and was responsible for one of the dumbest moments in recent NFL history. That play of him jawing at fans while Washington went for the Hail Mary will live in Bears lore forever. Since then, Stevenson has kept a low profile. He hasn’t been heard from all offseason. That finally changed when he offered brief but notable comments about the team’s new-look defense.
Jaylon Johnson and Kyle Fuller are both locked up with long-term extensions. They are unquestioned starters. The only spot in the starting lineup that could be up for grabs is the one Tyrique Stevenson holds. Chicago isn’t about to let him keep it without competition. They already had Terell Smith as a viable backup. Now they’ve added Zah Frazier in the 5th round, a highly athletic kid with terrific length who fits Dennis Allen’s system beautifully. If either of them makes noise in training camp, Stevenson doesn’t have the credibility to hold the job. He needs a strong summer of his own. This staff had zero say in drafting him two years ago. That lack of a safety net will either sink him or force him to elevate his game.
