The Chicago Bears are sitting at 1-4, so while the first win of the season is nice, it will take a big streak to turn things around for this team. Still, there are chances for the team to grow and improve over the next few weeks, especially when you see their schedule. Who are some players that may take on bigger roles that will lead to success?
4. The Chicago Bears are getting Gervon Dexter on the field more
Gervon Dexter played the most snaps of his career and the highest rate of snaps on Thursday against the Washington Commanders. Dexter played 33 snaps and in those snaps, he created six pressures, an obvious career high.
After he played just 36 snaps in the past two games, it was good to see Dexter get out there. Some of it is because of the game flow. He is the better pass rusher than Andrew Billings, but Billings is better against the run. So, when the Chicago Bears finally had a lead, it was time to play Dexter.
Still, some of this has to do with the progression of the player. He is better as a pass rusher but has not been an issue in run defense. The Bears' smartest move would be to start having Dexter eat into the snaps that Justin Jones is playing more than Billings. Jones played 52 snaps on Thursday.
He has not been as good as Dexter or Billings, and he is a free agent after this season, where Dexter has a chance to be in the future plans. The Bears have time to think about this, and next week we should see more Gervon Dexter.
3. The Chicago Bears are getting heavier with Marcedes Lewis
When the Chicago Bears decided to move on from Chase Claypool there were a lot of questions about who would step into that role. Right now, the team has decided to go heavier with their personnel. That means Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, and Khari Blasingame all taking on bigger roles.
Lewis played 43 snaps in the last two weeks after just 22 in the first three. It is clear that the Chicago Bears are starting to shift things. Some of this is because the team played with a lead in this game. However, the Bears have to lean into running the football more and relying on the legs of Justin Fields.
That means more heavy personnel and, specifically more Lewis. Lewis is easily the best tight end on the roster when it comes to blocking. The Bears cannot get predictable, but they have to go run-heavy, and it has to lead to Lewis playing a similar snap share to the last two games.
2. Jack Sanborn gives the Chicago Bears versatility
One interesting note from early into the Chicago Bears' win over the Washington Commanders was that the Bears came out and played their base personnel even when the Commanders played 11-personnel. It was an effort to defend the run first, so even if the Commanders had passing looks, the Bears were to defend the run.
It led to Jack Sanborn playing 12 snaps in coverage, and even rushing the passer on three snaps. So, the Commanders passed on 15 of the 18 snaps he played Thursday. Sanborn played so few snaps because the threat of the run was gone, but he played so many passing snaps early because the Bears played their heavy personnel against the Commanders' lighter offensive group.
In the last two games, Jack Sanborn has played 22 snaps in the slot. He also has 14 snaps on the edge. That is the role of the SAM linebacker, but it is becoming clear that the Chicago Bears want to lean on this look more, especially before they can get Kyler Gordon healthy.
Will we continue to see Sanborn in the slot in the coming weeks, or was this a more specifically gameplanned look?
1. The Chicago Bears will lean on Teven Jenkins
This one is rather obvious. The Chicago Bears will be getting Teven Jenkins back in the lineup, and next week will be his first start. The Bears activated him for the Commanders game, but he did not start. We will never know if there was a thought to rotate him in, but a Lucas Patrick injury had him in the shuffle quickly.
The Bears gave him a series off and played Ja'Tyre Carter but went right back to Jenkins, who finished the game with 37 snaps. He was arguably the Bears' best offensive lineman, and the game was the best that the line had played. Even if Lucas Patrick comes back, it is clear that the Bears will be sticking with Jenkins at left guard and Cody Whitehair at center.
Jenkins got a nice dip into his return, then got an extended break with the Thursday game. Now, on Sunday, he should be ready to roll for the rest of the season.