With Week 1 set to kick off, a lot of Chicago Bears fans might be walking into this season thinking the team has an easy victory awaiting them on the road as they visit the Carolina Panthers.
But the Panthers won the NFC South last year and have some good, young players. The Bears' defense is going to be tested big time by Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. Those are the top two names you've got to know in this one.
Quarterback Bryce Young is a big name, but he still has yet to prove himself as a long-term starter. We'll see what he brings to the table this year.
Aside from the names you might immediately think of, though, the Panthers have three other players who could end up being big factors in this game.
The Bears could be challenged by a few non-superstar Panthers players in Week 1
Darren Waller, TE
A late-offseason signing, Darren Waller is back in the NFL. The Panthers didn't exactly have a "threat" at the tight end position with Tommy Tremble and Ja'Tavion Sanders hanging around, so Waller made sense for a playoff team looking to get back into the postseason for the second straight year.
Waller will present the Bears with a terrifying red zone problem. He's always been an issue in the red zone. That's where he thrives, using his towering frame and athleticism to leap over defenders and catch touchdowns.
But even at age 33 (soon to be 34 before Week 1), Waller is still reaching new heights. Per head coach Dave Canales, Waller hit 20 miles per hour on a route in practice recently. That's almost unbelievable for a tight end, and at his age.
Will Waller be more of a factor than we originally thought? Of course, McMillan and Coker will present challenges. But Waller will be a huge challenge for Bears linebackers and slot corners. If the Panthers march inside the Bears' 10-yard line, expect Waller to be an automatic first-read -- and don't get upset when he catches a touchdown.
Jonathon Brooks, RB
Is it possible for Bears fans to cheer for an opposing player while hoping the Panthers lose? If so, Jonathon Brooks is your guy. A 2024 second-round pick, Brooks only took nine carries as a rookie and has missed the majority of his first two seasons after tearing his ACL for the second time.
Now healthy and having put in a full offseason, Brooks is one of those feel-good stories we all love. He looks to be part of a one-two punch alongside Chuba Hubbard, but Brooks' game-breaking ability is so much higher than his counterpart.
Brooks' health is in question as he's dealt with some soreness over the past few days, but if he's out there on Sunday, he's a threat to come up with a big play at any moment. The Bears' defensive line will be put to the test any time he gets the ball. This could be an early test for rookie Jordan van den Berg, giving fans a sense of where the first-year pro stands in terms of giving away.
Brooks hangs his hat on being able to gain yards after contact, so that's an area where the Bears' defensive line and linebackers will have to be sharp on Sunday. If he gets through the first level, we could see some chunk gains out of the third-year pro.
Mike Jackson, CB
Finally, I have spent a lot of time talking about the Panthers CB2 next to Jaycee Horn. Mike Jackson should be a household name after last season, but casual fans may still have never heard of him.
Here's the TLDR on Jackson: Eighth-year pro who didn't start until Year 4, led the NFL in pass breakups with 19 in 2025, also picked off four passes and allowed an opposing quarterback rating of just 75.0.
You've likely heard of Jaycee Horn. He's a very good corner in this league. But Jackson has been forced to grow because offenses have been shying away from Horn. Jackson had about 40 more targets than Horn did last year and still performed well.
Jackson has a high chance of stalling a drive on third down. Remember that.
Read more: 4 winners (and 3 losers) from Bears' quiet 2026 offseason
The Bears' offense won't have it easy against the Panthers, but if they come out putting up a lot of points, it'll be because Caleb Williams and company performed well against an incredibly strong cornerback duo.
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