The Chicago Bears had an eventful draft, trading the #1 overall pick for D.J. Moore and extra draft capital and eventually walking away with several players who have already earned significant roles on the roster. Each week, we'll be checking in to see how these rookies are doing. Welcome to Rookie Watch!
Roschon Johnson looked like the best running back on the team
Let's begin with a rookie who has impressed all throughout training camp. Roschon Johnson got the majority of the Bears' running back snaps in the second half, and in that time, he made a case for himself as the Bears' future starter at the position.
When someone tells you who they are, listen to them. Roschon Johnson said during training camp, "I'm a guy who likes to use his body as a weapon and kind of play off of that. That's definitely a tool in my toolbox that I try to use every day."
Johnson lived up to his word on Sunday, hitting Packers safety Rudy Ford with a hellacious truck stick on an 11-yard run that would have ended a friendship if it happened in a game of Madden back in my college dorm. Ford was so emasculated by the hit that he added insult to his own injury, picking up a 15-yard personal foul for shoving Johnson after the play in a move that was reminiscent of Chris Dudley chucking the ball at Shaquille O'Neal after Shaq dunked him into the netherworld.
Johnson scored the first touchdown of his career on a two-yard plunge late in the fourth quarter, churning his legs to push his way into the end zone. He ended the day with five carries for 20 yards and a team-high six receptions for 35 yards, leading all Bears running backs with 29 snaps.
Darnell Wright held his own in his Bears debut
The Bears' offensive line didn't have a great day. Justin Fields had no time to throw, and as a result, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was reticent to scheme up anything downfield that would require time in the pocket.
One bright spot was rookie right tackle Darnell Wright. The former Volunteer battled a very good Green Bay defensive line all day, earning the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any Bears offensive player.
Wright did get beat by Rashon Gary for a sack, but other than that, he did an admirable job. He withstood multiple rushes from talented Packers rookie Lukas Van Ness, and he handled several blitzes with veteran awareness, passing his man to the inside to pick up a safety in one instance and locking up two different rushers on another play.
Wright was even better in his run-blocking, and the job he did was all the more impressive when you consider that highly touted free agent signee Nate Davis had a dreadful game playing next to him. Wright also drew praise from Greg Olsen on the broadcast for his work on Kenny Clark on Khalil Herbert's two-point conversion run, sealing the veteran off to create an easy score.
Tackle is a notoriously difficult position to step in and play as a rookie, so Bears fans should be encouraged by Wright's polish in his pro debut.
Tyler Scott had a low bar to clear, but he locked himself in as the Bears' top kickoff returner
Bears fans remember all too well the painful memory of watching Velus Jones, Jr. attempt to return kicks last year. Each change of possession was an adventure, but the job appears to be in surer hands now that rookie Tyler Scott has the job.
Scott fielded four kickoffs cleanly, averaging 21 yards per return. He showed off the speed and elusiveness that made him one of the fastest receivers in the draft, and by not fumbling, he likely did enough to keep the job for the foreseeable future.
Scott also caught two balls from Justin Fields for 14 yards. It doesn't sound like much, but outside of Darnell Mooney, no Bears wide receivers eclipsed that number, including Chase Claypool, who might be chased into Lake Michigan if his effort remains as low as it did on Sunday.