Ben Johnson raves about Bears defender after breakout performance image
Jamree Kromah entered Saturday’s preseason opener fighting for his place on the Chicago Bears’ roster. He left Soldier Field as one of the biggest winners of the afternoon.
Kromah recorded six tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss during Chicago’s 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. His biggest play came when he strip-sacked Deshaun Watson on fourth down and recovered the fumble himself. Bears coach Ben Johnson praised the defensive end during his postgame press conference, highlighting both his improved technique and relentless effort.
“You could feel his presence every single snap,” Johnson said.
The performance did not surprise everyone inside the organization. Johnson said Kromah began showing signs of improvement during spring practices while adapting to the techniques introduced by Chicago’s defensive staff.
The question was whether that progress would carry into a game. Kromah supplied an emphatic answer Saturday.
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Jamree Kromah Makes Strong Bears Roster Case
Kromah entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison in 2024. He initially signed with Chicago before spending time with the New England Patriots. The Bears brought him back on their practice squad last season, giving him another opportunity to develop within the organization.
Chicago’s defensive linemen enthusiastically celebrated Kromah’s breakout performance from the sideline. Johnson believed that reaction reflected the respect Kromah has earned through his work behind the scenes. His production also helped the entire defense.
Chicago forced turnovers from all three Cleveland quarterbacks. Watson lost the fumble to Kromah, while Beanie Bishop Jr. intercepted passes from Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in the second half.
The Browns finished with 314 total yards and did not score after halftime.
One preseason performance will not guarantee Kromah a spot on the initial 53-man roster. Chicago still has several players competing for limited opportunities along the defensive front. The next evaluation comes against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bears will participate in joint practices before facing Cincinnati in their second preseason game Aug. 22.
Kromah will need to prove Saturday was more than a one-game surge. His dominant showing against Cleveland ensured he will receive every opportunity to do exactly that.
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