The Chicago Bears got off to a good start to the preseason after taking down the Cleveland Browns 34-10.
Chicago's offense was the story of the game, creating explosive plays throughout. The Bears' defense was even better with the run defense dominating the Browns from the first quarter.
13 initial thoughts that came to mind about how the Bears looked and which players stood out. Here's a quick reaction to everything witnessed in the game.
13 initial reactions about the Bears in the preseason opener against the Browns
Josh Blackwell should not play outside cornerback
On the first two drives, Blackwell played on the outside and struggled in coverage against the Browns' top receivers, giving them too much space and allowing easy completions. He'll make the roster since he is one of the best special teams players in the NFL, but the Bears should try him at safety or nickel corner. Blackwell looked off position on the outside.
Roschon Johnson played like a man that wants RB3 job
After a quiet training camp with a ton of pressure on him to perform, Johnson answered the call. He had some nice runs on the outside and even showed off his catching abilities. So far, Johnson looks to have earned the right to hold that third-string job for now after rushing for 34 yards on eight carries.
Malik Muhammad showed flashes of bring a great player
Muhammad has a lot to work on as a corner, but he had an impressive start to his tenure in the NFL. He showed good coverage, and his biggest strength is his aggressiveness and willingness to make a tackle. Bears fans can see why they moved him into that spot; it's perfect for someone who can be versatile between safety and corner.
D'Marco Jackson has improved in pass coverage
Jackson took some criticism in the offseason for his pass coverage abilities last year. During the Browns game, he looked much better with tight coverage, getting in the right zones to prevent passes from being thrown his way. It was a nice step in the right direction for Jackson, as he tries to get in the rotation with Devin Bush and T.J. Edwards at inside linebacker.
Bears fans need to enjoy the Tyson Bagent-Kaden Davis connection
Davis did have a tough drop, but it's clear that Bagent has a ton of trust in him. They had a great 41-yard completion that led to the Bears' first touchdown of the game. Davis finished with four receptions for 88 yards. Watch for them to be a great connection throughout the preseason.
Maurice Alexander is pretty good at football too
Alexander was very busy for the Bears, handling the return game on special teams with Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas out. He had one of the biggest plays of the game with his 25-yard touchdown catch from Bagent. Alexander looked solid in the game.
Jedrick Wills Jr. might not be long for the Bears
Before the two-minute warning, Wills got blown past by Julian Okwara and almost had Bagent's helmet ripped off on the sack. That one play alone puts him in major trouble with the coaching staff, but the next play, on Bagent's interception, Wills got beaten again. He might be in for a long preseason.
Salvon Ahmed....welcome to Chicago
How about a 49-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive of the second half for the Bears? Ahmed showed off that speed that has made him a standout at training camp. Johnson may want that RB3 job, but Ahmed proved he isn't going down without a fight.
James Lynch is a guy to watch for the Bears' defensive line
Lynch had a quiet great game that might not get much attention. He has great penatration in the middle, got a quarterback hit, and a pass deflection off a batted pass on the line. It's not clear whether he will make the roster, but he should get more eyes on him because he played well.
Jordan van den Berg is everything that was advertised in training camp
The sixth-round rookie out of Georgia Tech played extremely well and looked like a guy who could be a future starter. He might have had one tackle in the game, but he was continuously beating the Browns' interior offensive linemen throughout the game and got a quarterback hit. Look for him to keep developing into a great player for this team.
Bears' offense is going to be explosive in 2026
Chicago's passing game was really on point between Bagent and Case Keenum. The receivers, including Davis and Alexander, were just impressive, but the running backs were just as impressive with two touchdown catches out of the backfield. Bears head coach Ben Johnson threw the ball more than what fans saw last year, with 348 yards on 25-of-40 passes, but it worked to their advantage, and the offense was explosive and fun to watch.
Beanie Bishop...also welcome to Chicago
Shoutout to safety Beanie Bishop nabbing two second-half interceptions...even if they were both overthrown passes and landed right in his hands. Still, it was great to see. He even added three pass deflections, so that's a guy to watch the rest of the preseason.
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Jamree Kromah showed off in first game with Bears
Holy smokes, how good was Kromah in his debut in Chicago? He exploded onto the scene with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and two sacks. Could Kromah be this year's Austin Booker as best defensive the player in the preseason?
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