As the Chicago Bears took the field in Week 12, they were down quite a few starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In particular, it was the defensive side of the ball that hurt the most.
This Bears team has played all season long without standout cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Stud slot corner Kyler Gordon has missed the majority of the season. Linebackers T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, and Noah Sewell were all out Sunday, with Edmunds on track to miss a few games.
Yet, the Bears have kept winning. And, after the game, starting safety Jaquan Brisker had something to say.
"It's going to get scary," Brisker said after the win, in reference to when this defense gets healthy and has a chance to play all together.
Jaquan Brisker knows the potential of this Bears defense when healthy
Going into the year, we weren't quite sure about this Bears defense, in particular due to the defensive line and lack of pass rush. But, under Dennis Allen, it hasn't mattered who's been out there. The defense is getting takeaways and that, more than anything, matters most.
"We haven't played together yet. And when we do, it's going to be amazing. I appreciate every guy who has stepped up in the locker room. They never wavered or anything.
"We're just going to keep building off this and keep going ... when that time comes, it's going to get bad," he finished.
He isn't wrong. This Bears defense has the potential to be quite scary, and that is a bad thing for opposing teams.
Edwards is one of the most underrated linebackers in football. He is arguably the best linebacker on this team, but Edmunds is also up there at No. 2 in the league with four interceptions on the season. And, Sewell has been a glue guy. All three of them together? They complement each other well.
And obviously, the secondary has potential to be one of the best. Kevin Byard leads the NFL with five interceptions alongside Nahshon Wright. Brisker is a threat. Johnson and Gordon are some of the best at their position.
All of this while Montez Sweat is on a tear makes for what could be a sneaky defense down the stretch. The Bears just keep holding it together while the rest of them get healthy. Now, fans are simply hoping the injuries stop.
Read more: Ben Johnson's locker room speech said what all Bears fans were thinking
When healthy, this Bears defense is going to be a lot better than some might have thought back in August.