This performance had to be most concerning from Chicago Bears' preseason opener

The Chicago Bears are relying on big steps forward from their two defensive tackle draft picks in Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. While Dexter flashed enough potential as a rookie to be trusted, there are still questions about what Pickens can become. Those questions were intensified with Picken's performance in the Hall of Fame game. 

First, it was notable that Pickens even played. Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter, and even Jacob Martin sat out. The top five defensive linemen in the rotation sat, and they felt the need to play Pickens because he is not on their level yet. 

Austin Booker played because he is a rookie, everyone else who suited up is on the roster bubble besides Pickens. Considering his draft status and NFL pedigree, Pickens should have been the best player on the field, right? That was not the case.

He played just 17 snaps, but he was not a stand-out. He made two tackles, but overall, the tape was just average. This has to be concerning. 

Pickens is expected to be the first interior man off of the bench, but against backups, while playing with fringe roster players he did not separate himself. The Chicago Bears obviously do not plan to cut him, but it has to make them think that they may have to do something to improve the depth. Byron Cowart looked better than him. At some point, the Bears would either have to admit that and play Cowart more in the regular season, or ensure that there was someone better than Cowart. They thought they had this in Pickens.

Pickens still has a few weeks to show that he can improve from this performance, but if the Bears start to see this consistently, they will need to make a move.