Chicago Bears Stock Up: Bilal Nichols

Chicago Bears rookie Bilal Nichols has the arrow pointing up through three preseason games

Lost in the intense roster battle between Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard for starter snaps has been Bilal Nichols taking advantage of late-game snaps against depth players throughout the preseason.

Nichols was looked at as a bit of a project coming from the fifth round out of Delaware. So, even in snaps against depth players and reserves, Nichols is facing a massive step up in competition. Still, Nichols has gotten on the field as early as the first quarter in most games and has played deep into the fourth as well.

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Considering the various competition in which Bilal Nichols has played, he has been able to hold his own so far. He has put up two sacks so far in the three games in which he has played. What is most impressive about Nichols is that he has been lining up at every single spot on the defensive front.

Bilal Nichols has taken snaps at the nose, sandwiched between Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris. He also has taken snaps across from each as a defensive end. From the one through five technique, he has taken on guards and centers and handled his own.

2018 expectations

Nichols is a bright spot but still will see the field in small doses in 2018. As of now, he still sits behind Bullard and Robertson-Harris in the rotation at end. However, it is an interesting development that he has taken some snaps at the nose. John Jenkins has run ahead of Nichols but is easier to pass over on the depth chart than Bullard and Robertson-Harris. It would be a small role as the backup nose tackle, but it could get him on the field a bit more.

Nonetheless, Nichols has guaranteed himself a spot on the 53-man roster. He has the chance to be active on Sunday’s and provides some potential as a rotational piece. That would be a tremendous sign from a rookie drafted in round five.

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