5 Chicago Bears storylines to follow in second half of season

2. Can Chicago Bears keep playing unproven rookies

The Chicago Bears’ defense is not getting better. You may have been disappointed with Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, but the team was not going to improve overnight with them out of the door. With that in mind, this season should be about seeing what type of young talent they have on defense.

Jack Sanborn made his first start on Sunday in place of Roquan Smith. It was up and down, but overall you have to be anxious to see more. Dominique Robinson needs to play more without Robert Quinn. Al-Quadin Muhammad needs to play less, so they can finally see what the fifth-round rookie has.

Fans are probably already sick of Jaylon Jones, but this is a rookie UDFA. One of his first games was lining up with Justin Jefferson, and this week he saw Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. We are not saying bench Kindle Vildor, but if he is still hurt, it is fine to throw in the rookie and let him learn.

Even Kinglsey Jonathan is getting about seven snaps per game without Quinn, and that could go up a few ticks. The Chicago Bears have three UDFAs and a fifth-round rookie I just mentioned. Almost none of them will be long-term stars, but if they can find one of these players to become something, it is a huge win. The defense is already bad, why not keep letting these rookies get chances?