After one week of play for the Chicago Bears, things are looking up for the young franchise.
They just put up 59 points on the Carolina Panthers and are already on pace to be the best offense in NFL history. Still, the defense struggled, and some glaring roster concerns need to be addressed in the future.
There are six starters on the Bears who find themselves on the hot seat, whether it is just lukewarm or on fire. For this article, 1 is the lowest on the hot seat meter, and 10 is the hottest. Here are the starters that are on the hot seat and where the meter is for them after one week,
Hot seat meter for Chicago Bears starters after Week 1
Colston Loveland, TE
Loveland had an eerily similar experience early in the season to what he's having now, with another slow start. He was targeted just twice in the game and didn't catch either one.
One quiet game isn't the end of the world, and Bears fans have seen what he can do after a slow start, so there's no reason to panic—the hope is that he bounces back quicker than he did last year.
Hot Seat Level: 2
Rome Odunze, WR
Yes, Odunze had that great 47-yard catch in the game, but it was still a pretty quiet day for him. He finished with just two receptions for 52 yards in the win.
The calf injury didn't seem to affect him, which is good, but as the WR1, he shouldn't be outplayed by Kalif Raymond. He's not in any danger, but he has to produce some 100-yard games this season, with pressure already on him entering the 2026 season.
Hot Seat Level: 2
Jaylon Johnson, CB
For a two-time Pro Bowler, Johnson certainly didn't play like it in Week 1. He allowed a passer rating of 113.7 and recorded three tackles without an interception or pass deflection.
Last year's injury hurt Johnson's future outlook with the team, and while there aren't any discussions about him losing his job, the Panthers' game isn't exactly going to stop it either. With all the injuries they have in the secondary, he has to play better for this already struggling defense.
Hot Seat Level: 5
T.J. Edwards, LB
One tackle, that's it? For a starting linebacker who usually ranks up there in the box score, it should be embarrassing for Edwards to be outdone by rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, who ranks high with 10 tackles in the win. Edwards posted a team-low PFF grade of 30 in the win.
This isn't the end of the world, but it is not good for the team's top linebacker to play the way he did. Edwards was already in the hot seat like Tremaine Edmunds was last year, so while he's not completely in the doghouse, another game like that and things will surely heat up.
Hot Seat Level: 5
Garrett Bradbury, C
Bradbury wasn't terrible, but he didn't stand out as most Bears fans hoped. He committed a bad holding penalty that erased a nice 10-yard run by D'Andre Swift. PFF gave him an overall grade of 49.9, the second-lowest on the offense.
Rookie second-round pick Logan Jones is patiently waiting on the sidelines for his chance to play. While a center change isn't imminent, if Bradbury doesn't improve, he could be replaced closer to the end of the season, since he is already seen as a one-year rental.
Hot Seat Level: 6
Read more: Ranking the top 20 best Bears from their Week 1 rout of Panthers
Tyrique Stevenson, CB
On a contract year with back-to-back bad years, Stevenson needed a hot start like he had last year in Weeks 3 and 4, but it didn't even come close. He allowed a perfect passer rating of 158.3 and was second on the team in tackles with nine. No cornerback should be remotely putting up those kinds of stats.
The Bears might want to check under Stevenson's season because he might be the only one with a fire that's been ignited. He'd better turn things around quickly, or Malik Muhammad will replace him, and he'll never get his job back.
Hot Seat Level: 10
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