The Chicago Bears are about to go from having a massive problem in the secondary to the biggest strength on the defense.
This season, the Bears have been without three of their top four cornerbacks in Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Terell Smith. The good news is that Johnson and Gordon are aiming to return for the Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday.
That might be trouble for the two replacements at cornerback with the three that have missed time in Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright. It's been Wright who has caught fire this season as he is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with five, something Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen understands and will make sure Wright is on the field no matter what.
"Everybody is going to have a role. He's certainly earned the right to play."
Wright has earned the right to play for the Bears
Besides the five interceptions, Wright also has 10 pass deflections and took one of his interceptions back for a touchdown. It wasn't a smooth process for Wright at the beginning of the season, but over the last few games, Bears fans have noticed a change in Wright's game.
Stevenson was the shutdown corner in the first half of the season, but it's Wright who is picking up momentum. After Stevenson got injured in the Bears' 31-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was Wright who stepped up as CB1 and got the job done.
There's no debate that the undisputed CB1 on the Bears is Johnson, and Gordon will line up in the slot. The bigger question will be whether Stevenson or Wright should be the CB2.
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It's becoming clear that the Bears' coaching staff thinks very highly of Wright and seems to have the edge. With Stevenson hurt, Wright has a chance to run away with the CB2 job.