The Chicago Bears have completed their first week of OTAs for the 2026 offseason, with three more voluntary workouts scheduled next week before three days of mandatory workouts.
While much of the focus during the opening week of OTAs was on the offense and how they were progressing in Year 2 under head coach Ben Johnson, there was also interest in seeing their first-round rookie, Dillon Thieneman, on the field. The combination of Thieneman and free-agent signing Coby Bryant is expected to be one that will hopefully last a long time.
Well, that's what Bears fans were hoping to see, but it didn't happen. Johnson had told reporters during his media availability that Thieneman was not taking first-team reps. Instead, it was Elijah Hicks filling in as the second safety with Bryant.
Bears fans are curious about the decision not to have Dillon Thieneman with the starters
It's very early on in the process to prepare for 2026, and there has to be some kind of method to the madness, but it's interesting to say the least that Thieneman is not with the starters. Johnson's decision might come as the team tries to avoid rushing him into the lineup and to let him learn before being thrown into the starting lineup.
That could very much change in the next few weeks of OTAs or at training camp, but the Bears might not be rushing him onto the field. Otherwise, there might be bigger concerns about their rookie that aren't public yet.
In reality, this won't last long, as the Bears did not select Thieneman in the first round just to have him sit on the sidelines for his first year in the NFL. He was brought in as a Day 1 starter to help a defense that is trying to be less reliant on forcing turnovers and more on executing the fundamentals.
Thieneman is an elite, versatile athlete who can do it all for the Bears. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is going to use Thieneman in all kinds of ways that might even put him in the box as a linebacker or drop him back into coverage.
Read more: Ben Johnson subtly indicated who is winning Bears' position battle at OTAs
Bears fans should not read too much into it at the moment, as the defense will be in a good position going into the regular season. Thieneman will eventually find his way onto the field as a starter, but the question is, when?
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