Training camp is pretty much here, and the Chicago Bears are feeling good about most of the positions on the team. Most of them.
There is one that continues to be a thorn in fans' backs, but doesn't seem to be a concern at all with the team. Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox said it himself, as he called the edge rusher the biggest weakness of the Bears.
"The Bears have a proven ability to battle back late in games—they had seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including the postseason—but they've had to play catch-up because of a lackluster defense.
An underwhelming pass rush was the team's biggest issue in 2025, and the Bears have done little to address it. Montez Sweat recorded 10 of the team's 35 sacks last season, and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. was the only other player to top five sacks.
While Chicago did add interior defensive linemen Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street this offseason, it added nothing to its edge rotation."
Bears' edge rusher need to get better during training camp
It has pretty much been all on Montez Sweat to play well after racking up 10 of the team's 35 sacks in 2025. Gervon Dexter, a defensive tackle, was second on the team in sacks with six.
The hope is that either Austin Booker or Dayo Odeyingbo will step up and play well in 2026. Booker showed more promise after 4.5 sacks in 10 games last season. Odeyingbo only had one in eight games after receiving a $48 million contract for three years last offseason.
Chicago seems to be believers in Booker and his ability. Bears head coach Ben Johnson talked up Odeyingbo some during OTAs, offering encouraging signs that there is life in giving the edge rusher room.
While the defensive tackle position is not that much better, the edge rusher position is more important to address. Those are the guys that set the tone on defense and have to do more than just clog up the middle of the line.
If Booker and Odeyingbo continue to not live up to the expectations of a starter, it will force Bears general manager Ryan Poles to make a trade he doesn't want to make for someone like Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby. It will also make Poles look bad for not doing anything in the offseason and setting his team back.
Read more: One burning training camp question at every position with Bears
The Bears have pressure to win now after exceeding expectations in 2025. They can't afford to have the edge rusher room hold them back from getting that Lombardi Trophy.
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