As the Chicago Bears sit at their bye week, it is a good chance to look back at where the team stands. The rookies on the roster have five more games to complete their first season. The bye being this late gives them a chance to finish strong.
How have the rookies graded out so far?
Chicago Bears Round 1 Darnell Wright
Darnell Wright has checked a lot of the boxes that the Bears needed to see in his first season. First, he is playing over 99% of the snaps this season and has hardly missed any time. More than that, he has faced a tough stretch of opponents.
He gave up pressures to Rashan Gary, Shaq Barrett, and Chris Jones in the first few weeks. Nik Bonitto got him as well, and so did Montez Sweat. Then, he got a stretch of Danielle Hunter, Maxx Crosby, Joey Bosa, and then Cameron Jordan.
Wright got a small breather against the Carolina Panthers, but you could tell that he was playing through an injury after that tough stretch of games. He has not been quite the same in recent weeks but has still had moments of positive against both Aidan Hutchinson and Danielle Hunter.
Wright needed this bye week in the worst way. It will give the rookie a chance to rest and get back up to speed for the next five weeks. It would be great to see Wright finish strong.
Darnell Wright first half grade: B
Chicago Bears Round 2 Gervon Dexter
In recent weeks the snap count of Gervon Dexter has been brought under question. Dexter started the season playing both the run and pass. In the first three weeks he had 42 run defense snaps and 40 pass rush snaps. However, since then he has 154 pass rush snaps and 54 run defense snaps. He only played 26% of his snaps against the run from week three on. It is clear the Bears do not trust him in this area.
The Bears have started to play with a lead more, so his snaps are going up a bit. Dexter has started to see his play improve as well. Dexter has eight pressures in the last three sacks, per PFF. He had nine pressures in the nine games prior to that. That also includes four of his seven career quarterback hits coming in the last three games.
While Wright is wearing down from playing so much, the lack of playing time have Dexter ready to play his best football right now.
Gervon Dexter Grade: C+
Chicago Bears Round 2 Tyrique Stevenson
Tyrique Stevenson has had an up and down season, but overall you have to like where things are heading. The Chicago Bears gave him trail by fire by starting him as a rookie. Teams have relentlessly been picking on the rookie to see what he is made of. At times he has made plays, but there have been somebig losses. Mike Evans is certainly his most notable welcome to the NFL game.
He gave up a few big catches against the Chargers, Raiders, and Commanders, he has had a few big pass breakups, and he had some high notes against Davante Adams.
In the Bears' week 11 loss to the Lions, Stevenson had a forced fumble and an interception. He also was hardly targeted for the first time in months. Of course, after that, he missed week 12. The ups keep coming with downs as the rookie season moves on.
Tyrique Stevenson Grade: C+
Chicago Bears Round 3 Zacch Pickens
Zacch Pickens has played 23.4% of the snaps for the Chicago Bears this season. He has only played over 30% of the defensive snaps twice in his career, and is under 20% three times. Against Detroit, he played 27%, but then against Minnesota, it was back to 20%.
Pickens has been okay against the run, but has provided little pass rush push. This has not been a great season.
Zacch Pickens grade: D+
Chicago Bears Round 4 Rochson Johnson
Roschon Johnson is coming off of one of the biggest performances of his season. After getting a concussion in week five, Johnson missed weeks six and seven. It opened the door for D’onta Foreman to control the backfield, and it took Johnson a few games to get worked back in.
In weeks eight through 11, Johnson played 34% of the snaps, had 14% of the rush attempts, ran 35% of the routes, and had 10% of the targets. He played 72% long down and distance and 63% two-minute drill snaps.
In week 12 Johnson played 75% of the snaps, he had 44% of the attempts, and ran 51% of the routes. That includes all of the long down and distance and all of the two-minute drill work.
This is notable because while Foreman was injured, the Bears did have Khalil Herbert active. Was there a change of guard this past week? Will Johnson keep that trend up?
Roschon Johnson Grade: B-
Chicago Bears Round 4 Tyler Scott
For Tyler Scott, his season can be split into three parts. In weeks one through five he was a reserve. In weeks six through nine, the injury to Equanimeous St. Brown gave him a starting role. Then, in week ten St. Brown came back.
Scott had a 22% route participation rate in the first five weeks. That jumped to 69% from weeks six through nine and then was 30% after week ten. His target rate went from 4% to 10% and back to 4%. Also, his air yards percentage went from 4% early on to 24% in the middle of the season and then 9% in recent weeks.
This is a good way to show how his role has changed over the weeks. He did not do much, but his future role would be replacing Darnell Mooney in the slot, and he has hardly done that.
Tyler Scott Grade: C+
Chicago Bears Round 5 Noah Sewell
Noah Sewell has played 25 defensive snaps. When the Chicago Bears lost Tremaine Edmunds due to an injury, he played a slight bit more, but the Bears really reduced the role of the SAM more than they just added him into the role that Jack Sanborn had. Sewell appeared to have suffered an injury during week 11 practice and has missed the past two weeks.
Sewell does have 212 special teams snaps.
Noah Sewell grade: C-
Chicago Bears Round 5 Terell Smith
When Terell Smith sees the field, he often looks good. Smith came in off of the bench for an injured Jaylon Johnson in week three. He gave up a few catches, but rebounded in his first start wee four against Denver. He got beat by Jahan Dotson in week five, but overall had another solid game. Smith had an illness that put him on the IR for about a month. Still, he came back in week 11, and Tyrique Stevenson got hurt so Smith had to start in week 12.
Smith has started three games and is 12-16 for 77 yards. He has not allowed a touchdown. Beyond that, he has consistently shown to be a strong tackler. He made a couple of big stops against Detroit. Smith also has 32 special teams snaps, including 14 in the last two weeks. This is looking like a great pick for a fifth-rounder.
Terell Smith Grade: A
Chicago Bears Round 7 Travis Bell
Travis Bell was signed to the Atlanta Falcons roster from the Chicago Bears practice squad. He is gone.
Travis Bell Grade: F
Chicago Bears Round 7 Kendall Williamson
Kendall Williams is still on the practice squad, so while the Chicago Bears losing Travis Bell gets them an F, Williamson gets an incomplete.
Kendall Williamson Grade: I