Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson began his third season as the starting cornerback, starting ten of the first 11 games before missing Weeks 13 and 14 with a hip injury. Upon returning, Stevenson lost the starting job in Week 15 due to the emergence of Nahshon Wright and was a healthy scratch in Week 18. He had a limited role for the rest of the year, playing just 38 defensive snaps in the playoffs. He finished with one interception and 12 pass deflections in 15 games and ten starts while allowing 617 passing yards, one touchdown, and a 91.6 passer rating in coverage, including the playoffs.
Tyrique Stevenson enters a pivotal fourth season as he enters a contract year. Stevenson will not be guaranteed the starting job alongside Jaylon Johnson, even with Nahshon Wright now a member of the New York Jets. He could get pushed out of a starting job by a rookie.
The Chicago Bears’ 4th-round pick could push for a starting job
Malik Muhammad Shows ZERO Emotion as Bears Draft Him (Video) (Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images)
The Bears drafted former Texas Longhorns’ standout Malik Muhammad in the fourth round, 124th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft. He enjoyed a strong three-year tenure with the Longhorns, totaling three interceptions and 16 pass deflections across 41 games and 29 starts. Muhammad recorded a career-high two interceptions along with four pass deflections across 11 games in 2025, earning Second-Team All-SEC honors.
Tyrique Stevenson will compete against Malik Muhammad for the No. 2 outside cornerback position. The former second-round pick has thus far taken most of the first-team reps throughout the spring, but things could change in the summer. The competition will heat up during training pads once the pads come on, giving players the opportunity for live reps during joint practices and the preseason.
Al Harris has praised Stevenson’s effort thus far
“The young man that reported last year is so totally different than the young man that’s reporting this year,” Bears cornerbacks coach Al Harris said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “He’s focused in, he’s locked in.”
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