Latest Tyrique Stevenson update suggests the Chicago Bears are catering to the fans

When Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus met with reporters on Wednesday at Halas Hall, he left the door open for the possibility of cornerback Tyrique Stevenson being benched at the start of the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Eberflus's dodging of the question of whether Stevenson would be benched on Sunday seemed to suggest that idea was on the table. Advancing the speculation that Stevenson may not start the game for the Bears on Sunday, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune suggested that may be the likely scenario.

A benching of Stevenson to open the game against the Cardinals would seem to be Eberflus' response to questions of whether or not he is losing the locker room. Between Stevenson not being engaged in the play during Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary last Sunday and multiple team captains calling out the coaching staff on Monday, Eberflus seemingly had to do something in order to take back control of the locker room.

Signs point toward Tyrique Stevenson being benched to open the game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Considering that the Bears do need a victory over the Cardinals on Sunday in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, it would seem unlikely that Stevenson would be benched for the entire game. Stevenson's mental gaffe against the Commanders notwithstanding, he remains one of the team's best secondary players. Sure, the Bears have the depth to overcome Stevenson not playing, electively choosing that for the entire game wouldn't be a wise strategy.

Injuries may also necessitate Stevenson playing in the game. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker were among the Bears players who did not practice on Wednesday. If Gordon is unable to play, the importance of Stevenson only becomes more significant.