One of the biggest concerns for the Chicago Bears entering the 2026 season is how the secondary will look after a massive overhaul.
The Bears lost five legit key players in that unit, including C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, and Jonathan Owens. That left the franchise scrambling to ensure they have enough depth, but despite selecting Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, there are reinforcements on the current roster returning for 2026.
Bears cornerback Terell Smith took to social media to share a photo of himself back on the practice field with the team for offseason workouts. It's the first time Bears fans have seen Smith on the field since August, when he suffered a torn patellar tendon and was placed on IR during the preseason, ending his 2025 campaign before it even started.
Terell Smith is back for Chicago and ready to compete for a starting job
Smith's return is one of the big reasons the Bears were so comfortable with Wright leaving the team, as they already have depth at cornerback, but they were banged up last season with injuries. Muhammad is just the icing on the cake at the position.
In 2023 and 2024, Smith played a key role in the secondary, starting six of the 26 games he has appeared in. He racked up 68 tackles, 10 pass deflections, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
The former 2023 fifth-round pick might have a shot at competing for the starting CB2 job, as he will have to go up against Muhammad and the early favorite to win the job, Tyrique Stevenson. Smith will have a tough time, though, as the hype around Muhammad and Stevenson has been real. While he was benched late in the season, Stevenson is still a solid starting corner in the NFL.
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Chicago at least has the depth at cornerback needed for the 2026 season, but it will be interesting to see what kind of role Smith will play in Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme.
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