Grading Chicago Bears rookies after ten weeks of 2023 season

Chicago Bears Round 2 Gervon Dexter 

One of the big questions with Gervon Dexter has been his playing time. In a lost season, the rookie has only played more than 40% of the snaps just five times. The team relies on a rotation, but it is clear that they do not trust Dexter against the run. 

Dexter played over 40% of the snaps in three of the Bears' wins, and his best two games were against Washington and Carolina, when he had eight pressures combined. When the Bears lead, and he can get after the passer, he has shown flashes, but they trail, he shows nothing.

Dexter has 163 snaps in passing downs and 78 against the run. He is only defending the run on 32.3% of his snaps. A lot of those snaps came in the first three weeks, too. From week four and on, the Bears have played Dexter against the run 22.8% of the time. 

The flashes in pass rush are fine but need to come more often. The run defense is obviously an issue. With Justin Jones being a free agent and likely gone, will the Bears play Dexter more in an effort to see him develop? Or, is Matt Eberflus coaching for his job, hindering the growth of Gervon Dexter in the process?

Gervon Dexter Grade: C-