As Chicago Bears fans know, the team didn’t add any edge rushers going into the 2026 NFL season, an indication that general manager Ryan Poles and the rest of the organization felt confident in the players already in the building.
Montez Sweat is the team’s main pass rusher. Through the first three weeks, he has nine total pressures and two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s a good start for Chicago’s top defensive end.
The Bears understood what they had with Sweat, but there were question marks on the opposite side with Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker. Those two have produced some encouraging numbers through the first three games, and especially in Monday night’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bears saw great production from Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker
According to PFF, Odeyingbo has registered 11 total quarterback pressures (most on the Bears) and two sacks. Booker has added another five QB pressures and one sack.
Against the Eagles, both Bears defensive ends made big plays. Starting with Booker and his forced fumble. Takeaways are always important, but this play occurred after rookie tight end Sam Roush failed to down a Tory Taylor punt on the Eagles’ one-yard line, moving up Philadelphia’s offense to their own 20 instead. Booker punched the ball out, and safety Xavier Woods recovered it.
On veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards’ interception, Booker doesn’t get to quarterback Jalen Hurts, but he does raise his arms right as the Eagles’ quarterback throws the pass. Earlier in the game, Edwards nearly intercepted Hurts on a similar play with 13:38 left in the third quarter. Booker applied pressure, forcing the pass to come out early, and the veteran linebacker almost had himself an interception. The play doesn't happen without Booker's quarterback hit.
Before Dillon Thieneman's interception in the end zone, the Eagles faced a second-and-goal from Chicago's 2-yard line. The Eagles ran Saquon Barkley. Odeyingbo took on the block from the Eagles' tight end, beat him, and wrapped his arms around Barkley as Thieneman tackled him from the other side. That run stop forced the Eagles to pass on third down, and Thieneman capitalized. Odeyingbo also sacked Hurts in the fourth quarter on second down.
Sacks and quarterback pressures will largely define how people judge this Bears defensive line, but everything should count for something when evaluating the defense. Odeyingbo and Booker have shown so far that they can handle being complementary pieces to Sweat. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will need those two to continue on their current trajectory for this defense to take strides this season.
Read more: How Bears' defense is quietly near the top of NFL in turnovers (again)
Plenty of questions surrounded the Bears' pass rush entering 2026, and the unit has provided some encouraging answers to start the year.
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